UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Wilkin, derived from a diminutive of the name William.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Wilking surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, St Leonard Shoreditch and Ibstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wilking is 127 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.2%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
127 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wilking surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wilking surname density by area, 1861 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 | 69 | #21,148 |
| 1861 | historical | 127 | #17,469 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 51 | #30,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 12 | #32,772 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, St Leonard Shoreditch, Ibstock, Linstead and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. 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 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Ibstock | Leicestershire |
| 4 | Linstead | Kent |
| 5 | Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wilking 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 Wilking, 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 Wilking surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wilking 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, Wilking 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 Wilking is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wilking, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wilking has its origins in Germany, a country known for its long tradition of surnames derived from professions, locations, and personal characteristics. Originating in the medieval period, the surname is believed to have appeared first around the regions of northern Germany, where a number of names ending in -ing were common. The term ing itself often indicates a patronymic origin, suggesting belonging or association with a progenitor named Wilk or Wilke, which can be a short form of the name Wilhelm.
Wilking may also be derived from the Old High German words "wil," meaning will or desire, and "king," though this latter component is less likely to be directly related to royalty in this case. A potential etymological connection is with names like Wilkens or Wilke, illustrating a relationship to or descent from someone named Wilk. Variations in spelling, such as Wilkins and Wilkening, also hint at the fluid nature of medieval orthography.
Historical references to the surname Wilking appear in various manuscripts and records. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Johann Wilking, born circa 1450, who was a burgher in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. His status as a citizen in such a prominent trading hub indicates the established nature of the name by the late 15th century. Another early instance is recorded in a 1534 document from the city of Hamburg, where a Heinrich Wilking is mentioned as a merchant.
The surname appeared in church records and civil registries throughout the 16th and 17th centuries across north and central Germany. Notable is the mention of Margaretha Wilking, born in 1601 in the city of Frankfurt, a town known for meticulous record-keeping. These historical records show the spread of the name beyond its initial northern German roots.
Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Wilking have achieved recognition. For example, Friedrich Wilking, an 18th-century theologian born in 1720, contributed to the Lutheran Church's theological discourses in Saxony. Another eminent person was Johann Christoph Wilking, a philologist born in 1785 in Hanover, who was known for his work on ancient Germanic languages.
By the 19th century, the name had spread further across Europe, with various branches of the family emigrating due to socio-economic upheavals. Among them was Karl Wilking, born in 1823, who became a noted industrialist in the Rhineland. His business ventures in the early era of industrialization left a considerable mark on the economic landscape of the region.
In summation, the surname Wilking holds a rich German heritage, with its origins rooted in the medieval period and possible etymological ties to personal names like Wilhelm. Documented across centuries in various regions of Germany, it has been borne by numerous individuals who contributed to the socio-economic and cultural fabric of their times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wilking 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. Essex leads with 8 Wilkings recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.79x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 7 Wilkings recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | 7 | 78.39x |
| Westoe | 3 | 86.96x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 11.20x |
| Brighton | 1 | 14.35x |
| Cuckfield | 1 | 285.71x |
| Dawlish | 1 | 312.50x |
| Halstead | 1 | 212.77x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 30.96x |
| Patrington | 1 | 1000.00x |
| St Clether | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Terrington St John | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Wormleighton | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wilking 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 Wilking 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 Wilking households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Sugar Baker | 2 |
| Bible Woman (Misty) | 1 |
| Copper Smith | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Factory Operative (Crape) | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Not Any | 1 |
| Potman (Inn) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Stay Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Wilking surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Wilking a modern rank of #39,061.
A variant spelling of the English surname Wilkin, derived from a diminutive of the name William.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wilking 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.