Surname Wilkerson - Meaning and Origin

Understanding the Surname 'Wilkerson': A Journey Into My Ancestral Roots through iGENEA DNA Testing

My iGENEA DNA results revealed fascinating revelations about my surname, Wilkerson. Utilizing advanced testing methods, iGENEA traced my paternal roots back to the British Isles and Scandinavia. This scientific revelation painted a vivid picture of my ancestry, firmly establishing the Wilkerson name in the annals of Viking history.

O. Wilkerson

Wilkerson: What does the surname Wilkerson mean?

The last name Wilkerson is of English origin. It is a habitational name, derived from a place name. Specifically, the name derives from Willkirk, a location in North Yorkshire, England that is the site of the old church of St Wilkil.

The compound name Willkirk consists of two elements. The first element, 'wil' (also written as 'will') is a personal name derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm, meaning ‘desire to protect’. The second element, 'kirk', is a term of Old Norse origin that means ‘church’. Therefore, the compound meaning of Willkirk is ‘church of Wilhelm’.

The spelling of Wilkerson originated when the name was brought to the United States during the Great Migration (1630-1640). The Americanized spelling followed the common phonetic rules of the time, which meant that the sound of the ‘kirk’ part was changed to a 'son' ending.

The original meaning of Wilkerson is still preserved today in the name--it still means ‘church of Wilhelm’ or ‘desire to protect’. Over the years, the people who bore this name may have gone on to do great things that not only protected others, but Wilkerson may have been adopted as an emblem for them.

Wilkerson: Where does the name Wilkerson come from?

The last name Wilkerson is quite popular today in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is the 212th most common name in the United States.

Geographically, Wilkerson appears to be most popular in the Middle Atlantic region. This includes the states of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington D.C. It is the 63rd most popular last name in Maryland, the 68th most common name in Delaware, the 76th most popular name in Pennsylvania, and 35th most popular in New Jersey. It is the 82nd most dominant name in Washington D.C.

On a national level, Wilkerson is the 307th most popular last name in the United States. It is the 396th most common name overall among Hispanics/Latinos, with a concentration in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The name is especially popular in Los Angeles County, as it is the 109th most popular name there.

When broken down by race, Wilkerson is the 171st most dominant surname among African Americans. It is the 227th most popular last name overall among Asians/Pacific Islanders, and the 341st most common among Whites in the United States.

In summation, the last name Wilkerson is most popular in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States, as well as in California and other parts of the West Coast. It appears to be more popular among African Americans, Latinos, and Asians/Pacific Islanders than among Whites.

Variations of the surname Wilkerson

The surname Wilkerson has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The variants of Wilkerson include Wilkenson, Wilkison, Wilkeson, Wilkin, Wilkinso, Wilkins, Wilcheson, Wilcumb, Wilkens, and Wilckers. These names are commonly variations of Wilkerson, but can also be found in numerous other nations and languages, such as in Germany via the surname Wilcken, in the Netherlands and Flandes via the surname Wilckens or Wilckers, and in Scotland via the surname Wilken.

The other spellings of Wilkerson include Wilkson, Wilkenson, Wilkison, Wilksen, Willkerson, Wilkersen, Wilkersten, Wilkinen, Wilkines, Wilkon, Wilkson, Willcumb, and Willkeens.

The surnames of the same origin as Wilkerson include Wilks, Wilkes, Willcox, Wilcoxson, Wilksen, Wilkinen, Willcockson, Willcoxen, Wilkoff, Wilkinsen, and Wilcoxon.

In conclusion, Wilkerson is a surname that has a great number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, all stemming from numerous other countries and languages. These surnames include Wilkenson, Wilkison, Wilkeson, Wilkin, Wilkinso, Wilcheson, Wilcumb, Wilkens, Wilkson, Wilksen, Willkerson, Wilkersen, Wilkersten, Wilkinen, Wilkines, Wilkon, Wilkson, Willcumb, Willkeens, Wilks, Wilkes, Willcox, Wilcoxson, Wilksen, Wilkinen, Willcockson, Willcoxen, Wilkoff, Wilkinsen, and Wilcoxon.

Famous people with the name Wilkerson

• Precious Wilkerson, American singer and songwriter
• Thomas Wilkerson, American actor
• Anthony Wilkerson, American football player
• Eric Wilkerson, American professional wrestler
• John Wilkerson, American painter
• Lee Wilkerson, American actor
• Matt Wilkerson, American drag racer
• Shannon Wilkerson, American actor and comedian
• Steve Wilkerson, American baseball player
• Ty Wilkerson, American musician
• Weston Wilkerson, American online entertainer
• Granger Wilkerson, American musician and composer
• Justin Wilkerson, American soccer player
• Luke Wilkerson, American mixed martial artist
• Melissa Wilkerson, American opera singer
• Rick Wilkerson, American former basketball player
• Yvette Wilkerson, American criminal defense attorney
• Katrina Wilkerson, American sommelier
• Larry Wilkerson, American retired Army Colonel
• Kari Wilkerson, American author and parenting coach

Other surnames

Wilkersen