Surname Sedgwick - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sedgwick: What does the surname Sedgwick mean?
The surname Sedgwick is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name, derived from a place in Cumbria named Sedgwick. The place name is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century words "secg", which means sedge (a plant that grows near water), and "wic", translated to "dwelling place" or "dairy farm". So, essentially, Sedgwick means "dwelling place near the sedge", indicating that the residents occupied a homestead by a wetland filled with sedge plants. The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, making it one of the older surname derivations. This kind of surname was often given to people after they migrated from their birthplace, as a means of identifying them. It remains prevalent in the northern English counties, especially Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.
Order DNA origin analysisSedgwick: Where does the name Sedgwick come from?
The last name Sedgwick is most commonly found today in England primarily, particularly around the areas of South Yorkshire, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, where the family originates from. Additionally, the surname is known in the Scottish Lowlands, especially in the counties of Dumfriesshire, and particularly in Ayrshire.
The earliest records of the Sedgwick family date back to the 13th century in the Yorkshire region. The earliest ancestor was a Norman knight called William de Sedgwick who was appointed Sheriff of Yorkshire and fought alongside King Richard I. As a reward for their service, the Sedgwick family were granted estates in Yorkshire and other parts of the country.
Over time, many members of the Sedgwick family migrated to other areas of England, Scotland, and the United States, as well as other countries across the world, spreading the distinctive surname to new areas. As such, Sedgwick can be found in countries as far-flung as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
I the 21st century, Sedgwick is still quite a common surname. In England, it is ranked as the 1,619th most common surname out of a total of around 28,000 surnames. In the United States, it comes in much farther down the list, at just 18,425th most common name.
Variations of the surname Sedgwick
Sedgwick is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Sædgyth", which means “war-victory”. Historically, Sedgwick is most commonly associated with the 15th century Sedgwick family of Cumbria in the north-west of England.
Variations of the surname Sedgwick include Sedgwicke and Sedgewater. Alternate spellings of the surname include Sedgeick, Sedgall, Sedgewic, Sedgewicke, Sedgewick, Sedweck, Sedwich and Segdwick.
In the United States, Sedgwick is also sometimes spelled Segrave. In Australia, the surname is sometimes seen as Segrave.
The surname can be found in three alternative family names; the Scottish surname Sedgeman, derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Sigemann, the South Wales-based surname Sedgman, derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Sideman, and the North Wales-based surname Seddon derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Sedda.
The surname is also found in various combinations with other surnames, such as Sedgwick-Fisher, Sedgwick-Walmsley, and Sedgwick-Taylor.
Famous people with the name Sedgwick
- Edie Sedgwick: Born in Santa Barbara, California in 1943, Edie Sedgwick was an American socialite, actress and fashionmodel known for being associated with the pop art scene in the 1960s.
- Robert Sedgwick: Robert Sedgwick was an English theologian and archdeacon of Richmond, Yorkshire.
- Arthur Sedgwick: An English writer, Arthur Sedgwick is remembered for his book entitled ‘Two months in Toysland’, published in 1899.
- Katherine Sedgwick: Katherine Sedgwick is an Australian actor and television personality, best known for her roles in the popular shows such as Party Tricks, Children’s Hospital, and Home and Away.
- Cath Eliza Sedgwick: Born in Massachusetts in 1819, Cath Eliza Sedgwick was an American writer and author who wrote extensively on the subject of fiction.
- Bramwell Sedgwick: Bramwell Sedgwick was a prominent British lawyer, jurist and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Newport, Isle of Wight.
- William Ellery Sedgwick: William Ellery Sedgwick was an American epidemiologist who made significant contributions towards public health and hygiene.
- John Sedgwick: John Sedgwick was a Union Army officer and the Union Commander of the IX Corps during the American Civil War.
- Gara LaMarche: Born as Gara LaMarche, LaMarche is an American philanthropist who is the president of the Democracy Alliance, and formerly served as the president of the Atlantic Philanthropies.
- Steve Sedgwick: Steve Sedgwick is an Australian-born American broadcast journalist and television presenter, currently working for Sky News.