UK surname
Derived from the personal name Wilkin, a diminutive of William, meaning "resolute protection."
In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Wilkens surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #21,573 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilkens is 186 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.8%.
1881 census count
85
Ranked #21,573
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1891
186 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wilkens surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wilkens surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 175 | #13,409 |
| 1881 | historical | 85 | #21,573 |
| 1891 | historical | 186 | #15,740 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 123 | #20,128 |
| 1997 | modern | 99 | #27,039 |
| 1998 | modern | 98 | #27,923 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 89 | #29,173 |
| 2001 | modern | 89 | #28,932 |
| 2002 | modern | 88 | #29,534 |
| 2003 | modern | 80 | #30,425 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 85 | #30,219 |
| 2006 | modern | 89 | #30,027 |
| 2007 | modern | 92 | #29,929 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth, St Anne Limehouse and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Anne Limehouse | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wilkens surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wilkens, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wilkens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wilkens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wilkens is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wilkens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wilkens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WILKENS has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically in the Old English and Old German words "wilcuma" and "willkommen," which translate to "welcome" or "well-received." It was a name given to those who were hospitable or provided lodging to travelers.
The name WILKENS first emerged in the areas of modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, and England during the Middle Ages. In England, the earliest recorded instance of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wilcuma" and "Wilcumbe."
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Wilhelm Wilkens, a German merchant who lived in the 13th century and was involved in the Hanseatic League, a powerful trading organization in Northern Europe. Another notable figure was John Wilkens, an English priest and writer who lived in the 15th century and authored several theological works.
In the 16th century, the name appears in records from the Netherlands, where it was spelled as "Wilkens" and "Wilkensz." One of the most famous Dutch bearers of the name was Rembert Wilkens (1516-1585), a renowned painter and engraver who was a member of the Antwerp School of artists.
The surname WILKENS also has a strong presence in the United States, where it was brought by German and Dutch immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable American with this surname was Robert Wilkens (1796-1873), a politician and lawyer who served as the 13th Governor of Missouri from 1836 to 1838.
Another prominent figure was Gustav Wilkens (1833-1908), a German-born American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Gansevoort Market and the Ansonia Hotel. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Romanesque Revival style in American architecture.
In the 20th century, the name WILKENS was carried by individuals such as Walter Wilkens (1876-1958), a German-American civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Holland Tunnel between New Jersey and New York City, and Erwin Wilkens (1900-1964), a German actor and film director who worked in the era of silent and early sound films.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilkens surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 13 Wilkens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.32x |
| Surrey | 12 | 2.97x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.21x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.10x |
| Berkshire | 8 | 12.86x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.83x |
| Sussex | 7 | 5.01x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.43x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.26x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.39x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.84x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.04x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 9.08x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 12 Wilkens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 12 | 16.60x |
| Haughton | 10 | 694.44x |
| Tilehurst | 8 | 634.92x |
| Boughton Monchelsea | 7 | 2258.06x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 7 | 341.46x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 7 | 132.33x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 6 | 28.34x |
| Limehouse London | 5 | 54.95x |
| Ardwick | 3 | 33.82x |
| Stamford All Sts | 3 | 405.41x |
| Bromley London | 2 | 10.96x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 8.01x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 15.35x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 2 | 15.80x |
| Burntisland | 1 | 72.99x |
| Chideock | 1 | 526.32x |
| Downton | 1 | 104.17x |
| Gravesend | 1 | 41.84x |
| Holy Rood | 1 | 294.12x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 9.24x |
| Stranraer | 1 | 99.01x |
| Weaverham Cum Milton | 1 | 208.33x |
| Wellingborough | 1 | 25.51x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wilkens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wilkens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wilkens households.
FAQ
In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Wilkens surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Wilkens a modern rank of #33,377.
Derived from the personal name Wilkin, a diminutive of William, meaning "resolute protection."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wilkens bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.