This English surname recorded in many spellings including: Wild, Wilde, Whilde, Wylde, Wyldes, Weald, Weild, Weld, Welds, Wyeld, Wield, and others, has two possible origins. The first is or rather was, a medieval nickname for a high spirited, or over boisterous person. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century 'wilde' meaning undisciplined or out of control. Secondly the name may be residential for a person who lived on at a village called Wild, Wylde or Wilde, or from an area of uncultivated land called a weald.
This was descriptive for a large area of land used only for grazing, and forming part of the local common grazing rights. The surname was first recorded in the latter part of the 11th Century, making it one of the earliest on record. Examples taken from surviving rolls and registers of those ancient times include: William le Wilde, in the 1177 Pipe Rolls of the county of Leicestershire, and Henry le Wylde, who appears in the Court Rolls of the county of Essex in 1236. William de Wilde, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, in the year 1200, came from a place called Wilde. This may have been the village now called Wild, in Berkshire, or from some now 'lost' medieval site. Other recordings showing some of the spelling forms include: John Wyeld, who was christened on March 5th 1610 at St. Olave church, in Old Jewry, city of London, whilst Sarah Wield married William Atkins on August 3rd 1763 at St. George's church, Botolph Lane, also in the city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Ulricus Wilde. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of the county of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King William 1st of England, 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname wild is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of wild. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of wild.
It is common for surnames like wild to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.
The historical journey of the surname wild can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of wild. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname wild.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname wild, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all wilds who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. If you or someone you know bears the surname wild, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname wild. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of wild.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of wild, and at the same time, of surnames in general.