Where does “Wilkin” come from?
Wilkin comes from Middle English Wilkin, a diminutive of William, which derives from Old English elements meaning "will" and "cynn" (kin/family), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- (to beget or produce).
Ancestry of “Wilkin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Wilkin | — |
| 2 | Middle English | Will | — |
| 3 | Middle English | William | — |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | Willame | — |
| 5 | Old High German | Willahelm | William |
| 6 | Old High German | helm | helmet |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | helm | helmet |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |