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Wilks Family History

Wilks Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire Lancashire and West Midlands): variant of Wilkes

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wilks family from?

You can see how Wilks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wilks family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wilks families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 860 Wilks families living in Yorkshire. This was about 19% of all the recorded Wilks's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wilks families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wilks surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wilks ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wilks. 8% of Wilks men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Wilks women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wilks were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Wilks | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Colliery Hewer
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Wilks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 124,000 census records available for the last name Wilks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wilks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wilks

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Wilks. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wilks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Wilks. For the veterans among your Wilks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wilks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wilks family history

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What is the average Wilks lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Wilks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Wilks in 1947 was 52, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wilks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wilks ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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