WILKINSON
Wilkinson is an English surname whose origin lies in the patronymic formation of the medieval personal name Wilkin, a diminutive of William. The name William itself is derived from the Germanic elements meaning “resolute protector” or “helmet of resolution”. Consequently, Wilkinson originally signified “son of William”.
The surname is first documented in the early fourteenth century. One of the earliest attestations is Roger Wyleconsecone in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex dated 1332, during the reign of King Edward III (1327‑1377). Subsequent records include Thomas Wilkynson (1332) in the Cumberland Subsidy Rolls and Adam Wylkynson (1379) in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records. London parish registers record the marriage of Anne Wilkinson to Cutbert Worpcop on 21 January 1543 at St Antholin’s, Budge Row; the christening of Allen Wilinson on 4 August 1552 at St Martin Orgar and St Clement’s, Eastcheap; and the marriage of Anne Wilkinson to Thomas Roles on 27 September 1560 in Hackney.
Variant spellings of the name have been recorded, including Wilkenson, Wilkennson, Wilkens and Wilkins. These orthographic variations reflect the fluid spelling conventions of Middle English and the influence of regional dialects.
From a patronymic identifier the name evolved into a hereditary surname and is now prevalent throughout the English‑speaking world. Its bearers were historically Christian and English‑speaking, originating primarily in the British Isles, especially England.
One notable migration episode involved John Wilkinson, his wife Eliza and their daughter Nancy, who sailed from Liverpool aboard the “Robert‑Parks” to New York on 25 May 1846 as famine emigrants. This episode illustrates the broader diaspora of the surname during the nineteenth‑century movements of peoples from the United Kingdom to the Americas.
Typical given names associated with the Wilkinson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Wakinson
- Walkinson
- Welkinson
- Wickenson
- Wickinson
- Wickison
- Wikinson
- Wiklinson
- Wilikinson
- Wilkanson
- Wilkens
- Wilkenson
- Wilkerson
- Wilkin
- Wilkings
- Wilkingson
- Wilkington
- Wilkinon
- Wilkins
- Wilkinsin
- Wilkinsion
- Wilkinsn
- Wilkinsons
- Wilkinston
- Wilkison
- Wilkisson
- Wilkmson
- Wilknson
- Wilkonson
- Wilksinson
- Wilkson
- William
- Willkins
- Willkinson
- Willkison
- Wlikinson
- Wlkinson
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Wilkinson in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Wilkinson are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.
There are approximately 80,181 people named Wilkinson in the UK. That makes it the 75th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,231 in a million people in Britain are named Wilkinson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Wilkinson
- Tom Wilkinson - Actor
- Jonny Wilkinson - Rugby union player
- Stephen James Wilkinson - Music producer
- Joe Wilkinson - Comedian
- Paul Wilkinson - Football player
- Howard Wilkinson - Football player
- Valerie Jeanne Wilkinson - Actress (1931 to 2005)
- Ellen Wilkinson - Labour Party politician (1891 to 1947)
- Wilkinson - Drum and bass music producer and DJ
- June Wilkinson - Model and actor
- Geoffrey Wilkinson - Nobel laureate in Chemistry (1921 to 1996)
- Richard G. Wilkinson - Academic
- Kevin Wilkinson - Drummer (1958 to 1999)
- Mark Wilkinson - Artist and illustrator of album covers
- Naomi Wilkinson - Television presenter
- Connor Wilkinson - Actor
- Norman Wilkinson - Artist (1878 to 1971)
- James H. Wilkinson - Mathematician (1919 to 1986)
- Matt Wilkinson - Actor and radio presenter
- Conor Wilkinson - Irish football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.