Find out how popular the last name Wilken is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Wilken.

Wilken, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Wilken surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilken in America

Wilken is the 9642nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilken surname appeared 3,366 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wilken.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilken to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Wilken

The surname WILKEN is of German origin, derived from the personal name Wilhelm, which itself is a Germanic compound name composed of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." The name WILKEN likely emerged as a diminutive or patronymic form of Wilhelm, indicating "son of Wilhelm."

The earliest recorded instances of the name WILKEN can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Saxony and Lower Saxony. It is believed that the name may have originated as a nickname or descriptive surname, referring to someone who was known for their strong will or determination, or perhaps someone who was a skilled warrior or protector.

In the 13th century, the name WILKEN appeared in several medieval records and chronicles, including the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of documents from the region of Anhalt in central Germany. This suggests that the name was well-established and widespread throughout various German territories during this period.

One notable bearer of the WILKEN surname was Johann Wilken, a German historian and author who lived from 1766 to 1819. He is best known for his work on the history of the Crusades and his contributions to the study of medieval European history.

Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Wilken, a German politician and journalist who lived from 1827 to 1900. He served as a member of the Reichstag (German parliament) and was actively involved in the political and social movements of his time.

In the realm of literature, the novelist and playwright Wilken Weißhaar (1908-1996) gained recognition for his works exploring themes of social justice and the working-class experience in Germany.

The name WILKEN has also been associated with several place names in Germany, such as Wilkenburg, a town in Lower Saxony, and Wilken, a district in the city of Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. These place names may have influenced the spread and adoption of the surname in those regions.

While the WILKEN surname is predominantly found in Germany and among German-speaking communities, it has also been carried by individuals of German descent in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant German immigration, such as the United States and Canada.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilken

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Wilken.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Wilken was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Wilken has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Wilken was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wilken, please contact us.

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