Surname Wicker - Meaning and Origin
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Wicker: What does the surname Wicker mean?
The last name Wicker is an English toponymic surname, derived from the Old English word "wicere" meaning "willow". This denotes an early origin from a place where willow trees grew, used in the creation of wicker baskets for fishing or storage. The Wicker surname likely originated as a nickname for someone who was a basket maker or someone who lived near or regularly collected willow branches, twigs, or branches for weaving or basketmaking.
The Wicker last name is commonly believed to have originated in Lancashire, England, especially in areas south and east of the Langdale Pikes including areas in Westmorland, Cumberland, West Riding of Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. This suggests a widespread use of willow-based basketry in the northern and western counties of England centuries ago.
The Wicker surname is also found among English emigrants to the United States. The most common variant of the surname in the US is Wick, with the names Wicker, Wickham, and Wiggins being other variants.
Today the Wicker last name is found in most English speaking countries. It is also fairly common among English-speaking populations around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
Despite its English origins, the surname Wicker has numerous variants in other languages, including Wicar (French), Wieker (German), Viker and Wijk (Dutch), Jykarski/Wikarski (Polish), and Vicar (Spanish).
Order DNA origin analysisWicker: Where does the name Wicker come from?
The last name Wicker is quite popular and can be found all over the world today. It is most common in north-western Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, where it is believed to have first originated. In the UK, the number of people with the surname Wicker is estimated to be around 22,000.
In the United States, Wicker is the 8,596th most common surname, with an estimated 15,000-17,000 people bearing the name. It is most common in the southern states, as well as Texas and Ohio.
In Canada, Wicker is the 6,356th most common last name with around 10,000 people. Here, it is clustered mainly around Ontario and the Prairies.
In Australia, Wicker is estimated to have around 4,000-5,000 people with the last name, mainly concentrated in the big cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Finally, the name is also found in smaller numbers in other parts of the world, particularly in other English-speaking countries like New Zealand and South Africa. While the number of Wickers may not be especially high in any one place, it can be found in a number of different countries around the globe.
Variations of the surname Wicker
The surname Wicker is of English origin, with variations in spelling including Wickor, Wyckor, Wykor, Wyker, Wickar and Wycar. It is an occupational surname, deriving from the Old English word 'wiccere', meaning a basketmaker or willow-worker. Wicker baskets were used for a variety of tasks in medieval England, including weaving, harvesting and preserving food.
Variations of the surname can also be found in other languages, including the German 'Wücker' and the fallen Dutch 'Wijcker'. Wicker is also found as a variation of the Scottish surname 'Walker', which has its roots in the Old Norse word for 'walker' or ' messenger'.
The surname has spread around the world and is common today in the United States, Australia, Canada and other countries. Variants of the surname can be found in many records, both ancient and modern. In some cases, the name has been adapted, as in the case of Wickham, the Anglicized version of the Old English 'wicceham'.
In terms of the origin of the name, some believe that the earliest occurrences of a surname derived from 'wiccere' might date back to the 10th century, to a man called Alric Wicker, mentioned in the Encomium Emma of Abbot Thorold. We know that by the 14th century, the surname was common in Worcestershire, with records of the Wicker family of that county in the Populo Ville De Wykenhurst Court Rolls.
Altogether, the surname Wicker is found in many different variations, in various countries across the world. From its humble beginnings as an occupational surname in medieval England, Wicker has become an established and widely-spread name.
Famous people with the name Wicker
- Melissa Wicker: soap opera actress
- Sim Wicker: award-winning sci-fi author
- James Wicker: country music artist
- Holly Wicker: broadcaster and television host
- Kay Wicker: co-founder of Sinfonia Orchestra
- Jessica Wicker: entrepreneur and business consultant
- Kenneth Wicker: WWII veteran and ambassador
- Emmaline Wicker: professional dancer
- Abigail Wicker: note-taking chronicler
- Esteban Wicker: marine biologist and environmental activist