Where does “Wilkins” come from?
Wilkins derives from Middle English Wilkin, a diminutive of William, which comes from Old English William, ultimately from Proto-Germanic kunją and Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- meaning "to beget" or "race."
Wilkins (English): named after William Wilkins
Definitions
- named after William Wilkins
Ancestry of “Wilkins”, 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 |