Surname Wickman - Meaning and Origin
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Wickman: What does the surname Wickman mean?
The last name Wickman is derived from the Old Norse name “Víkingr” meaning “Viking,” which was a common element found among Scandinavian surnames. This implies that the original bearers of the surname Wickman were of Norse Viking origin. The term “Viking” is used to refer to the Norse seafaring warriors and merchants who traveled to mainland Europe, the British Isles, and North America during the period of 700-1100 AD.
One of the most notable bearers of the Wickman surname was Swedish likely Lars Larssen (1540-1607), who was a close friend of the famous Swedish King Gustav I Vasa. In addition, the more modern bearers of the wield the Wickman surname can be found in the United States of America and other countries around the world from the late 1800s onwards.
The meaning of the name Wickman may possibly refer to an ancestral lineage of Viking ancestors, or may simply mean a “son of a Viking”. It is likely that the Wickman surname has a long and proud history dating back to the medieval period of Viking invasions and settlements. Wickman surname has been proudly carried by many generations and its origins remain significant to many people who proudly bear the surname today.
Order DNA origin analysisWickman: Where does the name Wickman come from?
The last name Wickman is most common in the United States today, primarily concentrated among the population of just over 3,000 individuals spread throughout the Midwest and New England regions. Smaller pockets of Wickmans can be found further along the East and West coasts.
The name appears to be of Northern European origin, likely stemming from Germany due to the popularity of many variations such as Van Wickman and Van Wyck. This suggests that the name may have once been Von Wickman before arriving to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries with immigrants that were traveling to the British colonies.
According to the US Census Bureau, from 2010-2014 the highest concentration of Wickmans were found in Pennsylvania, followed by Illinois, New York, Ohio and New Jersey.
The surname is also to certain extent spread throughout other English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada and South Africa, with South Africa holding the highest non-US population of Wickmans.
The Wickman name is unique in its versatility, with derivatives such as Wickman-Baker suggesting a matrimonial union between a Wickman and a Baker. It is no surprise to see why the name is still so popular today.
Variations of the surname Wickman
The surname Wickman has several variants, spellings, and surnames of same origin. The most common variant of Wickman is Wigman, derived by simply substituting the ‘i’ for a ‘y’. Other variants of Wickman include Wiggsman, Wyckman, Wegman, Wieckman and Weckman.
It is interesting to note that the Wickman surname has geographic origins, depending on which modern country one is looking at. In the United States, the spelling Wickman is prevalent, while in Europe, names like Wickeman, Weckmann and Wieckmann are more common.
Another derivative of the Wickman surname is the Wickham surname. This surname is more common in England and Ireland, and typically is found in the form of ‘Wickham’, ‘Weekman’, and ‘Weekham’. It is derived from the Old English term, ‘wic’, meaning dwelling and ‘ham’ meaning village or estate.
The Wickman surname may also have variations depending on the country in which the individual with the surname is living. In Scandinavia, the surname is Weckman, whereas in Germany, the variation appears as Wieckmann. In France, it is Vigman and in Italy, it is Vicman or Viktorovitch.
Finally, the Wickman surname has several offshoots that did not emerge from the original bearer of the Wickman name. Variations such as Wickenheiser, Wickhen, Wickenhiser, Wischenheiser, and Wischgenheimer all have origins differing from the Wickman surname.
Overall, it is clear that the Wickman surname has developed many different spellings, surnames, and variants, all of which have their own specific origins.
Famous people with the name Wickman
- Chris Wickman: American soccer coach.
- Matthew Wickman: American professor and academic.
- Hannah Wickman: Canadian improv performer, comedian, and actress.
- Bradford Wickman: American composer and multi-instrumentalist.
- Emmy Wickman: Swedish pop singer and former Idol contestant.
- Ernie Wickman: American football player and coach.
- Eric Wickman: American transportation pioneer and founder of Greyhound.
- Lippo Wickman: Swedish businessman.
- Bill Wickman: English actor, stuntman, and dancer.
- June Wickman: American four time Olympic swimmer and former World record holder.