Surname Sykes - Meaning and Origin
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read moreSykes: What does the surname Sykes mean?
The surname Sykes is of English origin and dates back to the pre-7th century Anglo-Saxon period. It is a topographical name and derived from the Northern Middle English word 'syke' which means small stream or gully, often found between ploughed lands. Therefore, the surname Sykes would denote a person who lived near such physical geographical features. It is mainly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in England, where the landscape often includes these elements. In recent times, it has been identified as one of the significant genetically inherited surnames in the North of England, relating to Viking descendants. A famous person with this surname includes British musician Oliver Sykes.
Order DNA origin analysisSykes: Where does the name Sykes come from?
The last name Sykes is common in both the United States and Britain today. In the US, Sykes is the 651st most common name, used by approximately 29,000 people. It is particularly concentrated in states in the southeastern US, including Georgia, where it ranks 79th overall, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
In the UK, the name Sykes is ranked 121st, with there being an estimated 88,000 people bearing the last name living in the country. While the name is spread across the UK, it is most prominent in Yorkshire, where it is is the 32nd most common name. Other areas of Britain with relatively common use of the name Sykes are Cumbria, Lancashire, Norfolk, and Durham.
In Canada, the name Sykes is much less common, burely making it into the top 1,000 most popular last names.
Overall, while the name Sykes is not the most common today, it is used by many thousands of people across the United States, Britain, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Sykes
The surname Sykes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has long been a popular surname in England and its colonies. Variants and spellings of the surname Sykes include Sycke, Syco, Sikes, Sicke, Syc, Sic, Syke, Cyke, Sikes, Cyce, Cykes, Sycoo, Syckes, and Cyk. It also has patronymic forms such as Sykeson, Sykesson, Syksson, Sykkesson, and Sykksson.
In Scotland, the form Syke mostly refers to clan Macksykes. In Germany, the form of the Sykes surname is Zych, and in other parts of Europe, it is Zich and Zychus.
The Americanized version of the Sykes surname has many variants and spellings. These include Sikes, Sikke, Sycke, Syke, Zyke, Sike, Syc, and Sik. The Hebrew versions of Sykes include Szkeh, Szka, and Szki.
A similar surname is Sykes-Davies, which is Welsh and derived from the Welsh personal name Dafydd. This may be a variant of the surname Davys (or Davis), which is of Welsh and English origin.
In the U.S., the surname Sykes is often found with African American descent and is believed to be derived from the Yoruba word “sike,” which means “one who is possessed of wisdom.”
In conclusion, the Sykes surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames that originated from different countries and cultures.
Famous people with the name Sykes
- Nick Sykes: Nick is an American-born actor, best known for his roles in the films Watchmen, Just Wright, and the television series Deadwood.
- Chris Sykes: Chris is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has released two EPs and five albums to date.
- Joe Sykes: Joe is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, most recently competing in the Bellator Fighting Championships.
- Gregg Sykes: Gregg is an American guitarist, most known for his work in the 1980s band Fifth Angel and guitarist of the 1980s/90s rock group Static-X.
- Guy Sykes: Guy is an American jockey, most known for his multiple victories at the Kentucky Derby.
- David Sykes: David is an American entrepreneur, most known for his CMO role at 1776, a Washington D.C., startup incubator.
- Michelle Sykes: Michelle is an American scientist, most known for her research on receptor-mediated drug delivery and her role as a principal investigator at the National Institutes of Health.
- Maurice Sykes: Maurice is an American football player, most recently playing for the Washington Redskins.
- Heather Sykes: Heather is an American actress and producer, most recently known for her roles in the series Psych and The Uninvited.
- Felix Sykes: Felix is an English author, most known for his book "The Rat Race" as well as his work in economics and business.