Wilkes is a surname of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

origin. Its origin is as a variant of the name

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

. At the time of the British Census of 188
Wilkes Surname at Forebears
its relative frequency was highest in Staffordshire (9.5 times the British average), followed by

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Av ...

Flintshire , settlement_type = County , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , image_flag = , image_shield = Arms of Flint ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthsh ...

Montgomeryshire , HQ= Montgomery , Government= Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996) , Origin= , Status= , Start= , End= ...

and

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

. In all other British counties, its relative frequency was below national average. The name Wilkes may refer to: *

Albert Wilkes Albert Wilkes (6 September 1875 – 9 December 1936) was an English sports photographer and footballer in the early years of professional football in England, who played for Aston Villa from August 1898 to July 1907. Before playing for Villa he ...

(1874–1936), English sports photographer and football (soccer) player * Alice Wilkes, lady in waiting to Queen Katherine Howard * Alexander Wilkes (1900–1937), English cricketer * Belinda Wilkes, English astrophysicist * Benjamin Wilkes (died c.1749), British entomological painter * Brent A. Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens *

Brent R. Wilkes Brent Roger Wilkes (born May 21, 1954), is an American entrepreneur, defense contractor, civic leader. Wilkes became well known for his involvement with the Duke Cunningham defense contracting scandal and was indicted for his involvement in this s ...

(born 1954), American defense contractor * Carissa Wilkes (born 1986), New Zealand road cyclist * Cathy Wilkes (born 1966), Northern Ireland artist *

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...

(1798–1877), American naval officer and explorer * Dave Wilkes (born 1964), English professional football player * Debbi Wilkes (born 1946), Canadian figure skater and author of books on figure skating *

Del Wilkes Delbert Alexander "Del" Wilkes, Jr. (December 21, 1961 – June 30, 2021) was an American professional wrestler and college football player, better known by his ring names, The Trooper and The Patriot. Over the course of his nine-year career, W ...

(born 1961), American wrestler * Donald E. Wilkes Jr. (born 1944), American professor of law *

Donna Wilkes Donna Consuelo Wilkes (born 1958–1961) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor in commercials before making her feature film debut in ''Jaws 2'' (1978). She subsequently had a supporting role in '' Almost Summer'' (1978), ...

(born 1959), American film actress * Faas Wilkes (1923–2006), Dutch football (soccer) player *

Frank Wilkes Frank Noel Wilkes (16 June 1922 – 20 August 2015) was an Australian politician who served as the Leader of the Labor Opposition in Victoria from 1977 to 1981. Early life Wilkes was born in Melbourne and educated at Northcote Primary and Se ...

(born 1922), Australian politician * Frederick Wilkes (1869–after 1892), English professional footballer * Fred Wilkes (1883–1942), English professional footballer * George Wilkes (1817–1885), American journalist and newspaper editor * Ian Wilkes (born 1965), Australian racehorse trainer in the USA * India Wilkes, fictional character in American novel and film ''Gone with the Wind'' * J. D. Wilkes (born 1972), American musician *

Jamaal Wilkes Jamaal Abdul-Lateef (born Jackson Keith Wilkes; May 2, 1953), better known as Jamaal Wilkes, is an American former basketball player who was a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A three-time NBA All-Star, he won four NBA ...

(born 1953), American basketball player, formerly Keith Wilkes * James Wilkes (disambiguation), several people * Joanne Wilkes (born 1956), New Zealand professor of English literature * John Wilkes (disambiguation), several people * Jon Wilkes (born 1985), American drummer *

Jonathan Wilkes Jonathan Wilkes (born 1 August 1978) is an English television presenter and singer. Early life and career Jonathan Wilkes was born in Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, to Eileen Wilkes and Graham Wilkes, and spent most of his childhood in ...

(born 1978), English television presenter, actor and musician *

Joseph Wilkes Joseph Wilkes (1733–1805) was an 18th-century English industrialist and agricultural improver born in the village of Overseal in Derbyshire but more commonly associated with the village of Measham in Leicestershire. From a farming family, Wil ...

(1733–1805), English industrialist and agricultural improver *

Justin Wilkes Justin Wilkes is a film and television producer. Best known for producing documentary ''What Happened, Miss Simone?'' that earned him Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nomination at 88th Academy Awards with co-producer Amy Hobby and direct ...

, film producer *

Kathy Wilkes Kathleen Vaughan Wilkes (23 June 1946 – 21 August 2003) was an English philosopher and academic who played an important part in rebuilding the education systems of former Communist countries after 1990. She established her reputation as an aca ...

(1946–2003), English philosopher and academic * Kris Wilkes (born 1998), American basketball player * Lyall Wilkes (1914–1991), English historian, judge and politician *

Mary Allen Wilkes Mary Allen Wilkes (born September 25, 1937) is a lawyer, former computer programmer and logic designer, known for her work with the LINC computer, now recognized by many as the world's first "personal computer". Career Wilkes was born in Chica ...

(born 1937), American computer programmer and hardware engineer *Sir Maurice Wilkes (1913–2010), British computer scientist *Maya Wilkes, fictional character in American TV sitcom '' Girlfriends'' * Melanie Wilkes, fictional character in American novel and film ''Gone with the Wind'' *Sir Michael Wilkes (1940–2013), British army general * Oliver Wilkes (born 1980), English born Scottish rugby league player * Oren Wilkes (born 1988), American fashion model and blogger *

Owen Wilkes Owen Ronald Wilkes (1940 – 12 May 2005) was a peace campaigner and the founder of the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa and the Anti-Bases Campaign, who was given a suspended prison sentence for espionage in Norway (the Wilkes/Gledi ...

(1940–2005), New Zealand peace campaigner * Paget Wilkes (1871–1934), English missionary in Japan *

Paul Wilkes Paul Wilkes is a journalist, writer, and documentarian who has written extensively about individual spirituality as well as the role of religion in public and personal lives. As a social entrepreneur he has worked to aid the poor and marginalized b ...

(born 1938), American author on Catholicism * Peter Singleton Wilkes (1827–1900), American Confederate politician * Reggie Wilkes (born 1956), American football player *

Rich Wilkes Richard "Rich" Wilkes (born 1966) is an American filmmaker and musician. His work is noted for its rooting in contemporary music and youth culture. Works As Screenwriter Wilkes' major-studio debut was as screenwriter of the 1994 film ''Airheads ...

(born 1966), American filmmaker * Robert Wilkes (1832–1880), Irish-Canadian politician and businessman * Robert Wilkes (priest) (born 1948), Church of England priest, former Dean of Birmingham Cathedral * Rodney Wilkes (1925–2014), Trinidadian weightlifter *

Sarah Wilkes Sarah Wilkes (born August 4, 1990 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian curler from London, Ontario. She won the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts with Team Chelsea Carey and is currently the second for Team Rachel Homan. Career Juniors As a j ...

(born 1990), Canadian curler * Stephen Wilkes, American photographer * Steve Wilkes (born 1967), English professional footballer *

T. M. Wilkes Thomas Martin Wilkes CBE, MC (24 March 1888 - 23 October 1958) was a New Zealand soldier who later, as an Air Force Group Captain, was appointed to the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Air Board. Wilkes also served as Controller of Civil Aviation i ...

(1888–1958), Controller of Civil Aviation in New Zealand * Thomas Wilkes (MP) (by 1508–156/37), English politician *Sir

Thomas Wilkes Sir Thomas Wilkes (c.1545 – 2 March 1598 ( N.S in Rouen)) was an English civil servant and diplomat during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. He served as Clerk of the Privy Council, Member of Parliament for Downton and Southampton, a ...

(c.1545–1598), English civil servant and diplomat *

Tom Wilkes (footballer) Thomas Henry Wilkes (19 May 1874 – 1921) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Stoke. Career Wilkes was born in Alcester and played amateur football with Redditch Town before joining Aston Villa ...

(1874–1921), English footballer *

Tom Wilkes Thomas Edward Wilkes (July 30, 1939 – June 28, 2009) was an American art director, designer, photographer, illustrator, writer and producer-director. Life Wilkes was born in Long Beach, California and raised in southern California. Wilkes atte ...

(1939–2009), American art director, designer, photographer, illustrator, writer and producer-director *

Trudi Wilkes Trudi is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Trudi Ames (born 1946), American actress *Trudi Birger (1927–2002) German Holocaust survivor and writer *Trudi Canavan (born 1969), Australian writer * Trudi Le Caine (1911–1999), G ...

(born 1973), British voiceover artist * William Wilkes (1865–1940), English cricketer

Fictional characters

* Annie Wilkes, fictional character in the Stephen King novel and film '' Misery'' *

Ashley Wilkes George Ashley Wilkes is a fictional character in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel '' Gone with the Wind'' and the 1939 film of the same name. The character also appears in the 1991 book '' Scarlett'', a sequel to ''Gone with the Wind'' written by ...

, fictional character in American novel and film ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' *Sergeant Wilkes, fictional character in the film, ''

Dracula's Daughter ''Dracula's Daughter'' is a 1936 American vampire film, vampire horror film produced by Universal Pictures as a sequel to the 1931 film ''Dracula (1931 English-language film), Dracula''. Directed by Lambert Hillyer from a screenplay by Garrett F ...

Fictional characters

See also