The English surname Wilks is of patronymic origin, meaning son of, or descendant of Wilkin, a pet form of William popular in the Middle Ages. On November 15th 1540, Thomas Wilkes married Alice Clercke, at St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Mary Magdalene, Milk Street, London, and John Wilkes, married Elyzabethe Wynsor, on September 13th 1548, at Christchurch, Greyfriars, Newgate. Sir Thomas Wilkes (1545 - 1598) was a successful diplomatist for Queen Elizabeth I, and M.P. for Southampton in 1588 - 1593. One Mark Wilks (1760 - 1831) was a lieutenant and aide-de-camp to the Governor of Fort St. George in 1788 and became military and private secretary to Governor Lord Clive, eventually appointed lieutenant-Colonel in Madras army (India). He was Governor of St. Helena from 1813 - 1815. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Wilkys, which was dated 1327, The Worcester Subsidy Rolls.