Surname Wilckens - Meaning and Origin

Wilckens: What does the surname Wilckens mean?

The last name Wilckens is of German origin, derived from a contraction of the given names “Wilhelm” and “Heinrich”, which combined mean “the will of a ruler.” It is believed that the family name evolved from the German word “wilken”, which means “guardian”, and suggests that those with the Wilckens family name were once part of the nobility or had some elevated social position.

The Wilckens surname is most common in Germany, specifically in Bavaria. Records of this name can be found dating back to as early as the 11th century, with several known and surviving branches. Documents from the Middle Ages also indicate that the Wilckens family was one of the oldest and most affluent in the region.

As the world has evolved and technology has brought together distant relatives, many of those carrying the Wilckens family name have been spread far and wide, from Germany to the United States, Sweden, Norway and beyond.

The modern Wilckens family name still reflects the origin of its ancestors – strength, nobility and protection. The Wilckens family remains proud of its history and will continue to pass on its legacy for many generations to come.

Wilckens: Where does the name Wilckens come from?

The last name Wilckens is most commonly found in the United States, Europe, and Australia. In the US, Wilckens is primarily concentrated in the Midwest and South, particularly in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Within those states, major cities with large concentrations of people with this name include Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Rockford, Madison, and Green Bay.

In Europe, Wilckens is most commonly found in Germany, as well as in the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Specifically, Wilckens is most common in the state of Lower Saxony, located in the north of Germany, and in the city of Berlin.

Finally, Wilckens is most commonly found in Australia's two most populous states: New South Wales and Victoria. Again, major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide have large concentrations of people with this last name.

In all these countries, Wilckens is still a relatively common last name, and both the origin and meaning appear to be largely linked to Germany. It is thought to be derived from either a German personal name (Wilke, Wilken, Wilck) or from the German words meaning 'willed cuckoo'.

Variations of the surname Wilckens

The surname Wilckens is traditionally of German origin and is derived from the Old German name "Wilcion", which is composed of two individual elements: "Vil" which signifies a will and "con" which signifies bold. Variants of this surname include Wilcken, Wilckenss, Wilkens, Wilkenss, Wilkening, Wilke, Wilkenson, Wilken, Willkens, Wilkenes, Wilkonson, Wilkerson, Wilkers and Wilkersonn.

In some cases, a 'von' may appear at the beginning of the name. This denotes a noble family.

Spelling variations of this surname include Wilck, Wilcken, Wilken, Wilkens, Wilke, Wilcken, Wilckens, Wilkenss, Wilkkens, Wilckenson, Wilckerson, Wilckersonn, Wilckes, Wilckessen, Wilckinas, Wilckings, Wilckinson, Wilick, Wiliken, Wilkins, Wilkenson, Wil picnic.

Other spellings and variants of Wilckens include Welcken, Vellken, Willcken, Wellcken, Wellekens, Wellkens, Wolfchens, Welckens, Wolckenson, Wolckens, Völckens, Völckers and Vlecken.

It is possible that some of these surnames stemmed from nicknames such as Wilken, which essentially means, ‘son of Will.’

Since Wilckens is traditionally of German origin, international spellings can also be found in places such as the Netherlands, Scotland, and the United States. In the Netherlands this name can be found under Wilkensz. In Scotland, the spelling may appear as Wilkins or Wilkenson. In the United States, variations of the name can be found as Wilkerson and Wilkersonn.

Famous people with the name Wilckens

• Veit Wilckens: actor and director from Germany known for the role of Viktor Beermann in the 1995 movie Keiner liebt mich.
• Dr. Henry Wilckens: German-born American Urologist, professor and medical textbook author
• Bernhard Wilckens: German painter and graphic artist from the 19th century
• Jan Wilckens: German rower who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
• Wessel Wilckens: German skipper who won the final race in the 1976-1977 Whitbread Round the World Race
• Johannes Wilckens: German-born American classical trumpeter
• Holger Wilckens: German music producer and composer
• Sarah Wilckens: German businesswoman and philanthropist.
• Kurt Wilckens: German footballer who played in the 1930s
• Hermann Wilckens: German flight officer during World War I

Other surnames

WilckeWilcken