Surname Sidgwick - Meaning and Origin
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Sidgwick: What does the surname Sidgwick mean?
The last name Sidgwick is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname. It is derived from an Old English word meaning ‘valley-dweller’, which likely reflects the family’s origins. The name appears in different forms, including Sinckwick, Syggewick and Sedgewick, and come from a time when many individuals were known by their occupation or geographical location.
The Sidgwicks can trace their roots back to the small village of Sedgwick in Cumbria, in northwest England. The earliest recorded reference to the name is from the 12th century, when records show that Adam Suugwic, known as a scarparius, or steward, was employed at the Sedgwick manor.
The most famous member of the Sidgwick family is Henry Sidgwick, a famous 19th-century philosopher and economist. Born in 1838 to a moderately wealthy family, he attended Cambridge University, establishing himself as a famous and respected academic. He was a co-founder of the Society for Psychical Research, pioneering psychological research into the paranormal. His books on the philosophy of ethics, philosophy of religion, political theory, and classical utilitarianism remain relevant today.
Ultimately, the Sidgwick family’s legacy is of a long history and a respected reputation in academics, and a recognition that began with the very first recorded member of the family centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisSidgwick: Where does the name Sidgwick come from?
The last name Sidgwick is most highly concentrated in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Wales. The 2011 census showed that there were 108 people with the last name Sidgwick living in England and Wales, making it an extremely rare surname. It appears to be relatively rare in other countries, as well. For example, in the 2010 United States census, only two individuals were listed with the last name Sidgwick.
There is evidence to suggest that the name is much more common in the past than it is today. The 1881 UK Census showed that there were 775 people with the last name Sidgwick in the country. The earliest known usage of the name is by the Norman family who lived near the village of West Grinstead in Sussex, and the name appears to originate in the 13th century.
Given this information, it appears that the last name Sidgwick was much more common in the past but is now increasingly rare, particularly outside of the United Kingdom. However, there is still a small population of people with this last name in England and Wales, especially in rural regions.
Variations of the surname Sidgwick
The surname Sidgwick is of English origin and likely derives from an Old English personal name, Sigeweard, which means ‘victory guardian’. Variants of the surname include Sidegwick, Sedgwick, Sidgwicke, Sidegwicke, Sigeweard, Sigweard, Sidgewick, Sidegwick, Sigewick and Sigwick. This surname is fairly uncommon and can also be spelt Sidgewick, Sedgewicke or Segwick.
The traditional pronunciations of the surname vary, depending on the region and family origin. SID -juh-wik and SED -juh-wik are both commonly heard variations.
Alternative spellings for the Sidgwick surname may include Sigewick, Secgeet, Segroot, Seggood, Segis, Sidges, Segwick, Sigwood and Sigis. Alternate surnames derived from the same personal name include Seige, Sigod, Sigeodge, Sigodge, Sidgood, Signs and Siggs.
Variants of the surname can also be found in other languages, such as German (Siczgwijk) and Dutch (Sidgwijk).
Sidgwick is a patchwork of different spelling variations, some of which have probably been lost over time. However, the most common forms of the surname remain Sedgwick and Sidgwick.
Famous people with the name Sidgwick
- Henry Sidgwick: Henry Sidgwick (1838: 1900) was an English utilitarian philosopher and an influential member of the British Moral Sciences Club. He was best known for his book The Methods of Ethics.
- Arthur Sidgwick: Arthur Sidgwick (1847: 1929) was an English classical scholar, literary critic and poet associated with the Dogberry club.
- Eleanor Sidgwick: Eleanor Sidgwick (1845: 1936) was an English educationist and women's rights advocate. She was a pioneer of the higher education of women, and a prominent member of the Fabian Society.
- Emma Watson Sidgwick: Emma Watson Sidgwick (1860: 1941) was a British philosopher most associated with the New Realism and idealism movements of the early 20th century. Her works focused heavily on the implications of modern philosophical theories with special attention on the subject-object relationship.
- John Sidgwick: John Sidgwick (1859: 1923) was a civil engineer and architect who designed some of the iconic buildings in the United Kingdom, including the University of Manchester and Cambridge Town Hall.
- Kenneth Sidgwick: Kenneth Sidgwick (1893: 1978) was a British explorer and cognitive scientist who gathered anthropological and linguistic data from native populations of the Oceania region.
- Lucy Sidgwick: Lucy Sidgwick (1920: 2006) was a British philosopher associated with the Cambridge philosophy tradition. Her work focused on moral philosophy and implications of a social philosophical view.
- Francis Sidgwick: Francis Sidgwick (1848: 1912) was a British organist and pastor noted for his books on the history of British church music.