Surname Wicks - Meaning and Origin
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Broadening my Horizon: How iGENEA DNA Test Deepened My Understanding of the Surname 'Wicks'
The revelation of my ancestry through the iGENEA DNA test has significantly influenced my perspective on my surname 'Wicks' and my family identity. The test has provided a window into the past, illuminating rich English history and divergent migratory patterns associated with my lineage. The newfound knowledge has not only enhanced my understanding of myself but also contributed to a more profound sense of unity and an enlarged worldview of what constitutes family.
N. Wicks
read moreWicks: What does the surname Wicks mean?
The surname Wicks is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century word "wic," which means "settlement, village or dwelling." Therefore, the surname often refers to someone who lived in or was from such a place. Often, the place was a specialized farm, dairy farm, or even a trading place. In Old Norse, "wic" meant 'an inlet,' and it could refer to someone living near an inlet or bay. The name has various spellings, including Wick, Wix, Wych, and more. Over time, it developed into a family name in many places across England, such as Chichester in Sussex, where the name was possibly given to individuals coming from a port. The surname first started appearing in records around the 13th and 14th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWicks: Where does the name Wicks come from?
The last name Wicks is commonly found in countries with English-speaking heritage, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. In the US, the Wicks surname has its highest concentration in the Northeastern states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. An estimated 2,000 people living in the US are named Wicks. The last name has British origins, and is thought to have derived from a personal name Wicca, meaning to bend or bendable.
In the UK, Wicks is the 515th most common surname in the country and is mainly found in the Southwest, especially in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Interestingly, Canada has the highest proportion of Wicks share of population compared to the other two countries at 0.02%. In other parts of the world, like Australia, South Africa, and India, Wicks is not a very common surname.
It is believed that the last name Wicks also refers to somebody who was a bailiff or lawyer. This is because people who had a professional rank in the law were often called Wicks, derived from the old English word “wiccere” which translates to "judge".
Variations of the surname Wicks
The surname Wicks is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname derived from the Old English words "wic," which means "Oats" and "wic-hus," which means "stairs." Over the centuries this surname has been spelled in various ways such as Wykes, Wikes, Wicks, Wickes, Wykkes and Wickks.
Variants of this surname include Wicksman, Wixham, Wickham and Wyckoff. There are also variants of this surname in other countries, such as Whicker in Germany and Wiecker in the Netherlands.
The surname Wykes has been present in the British Isles since the 13th century and is of Norman origin. It was brought to England by Norman settlers during and after the Norman Conquest.
The surname Wickes is an English patronymic name derived from the Old Norse personal name "Uicki." It is found in Scotland, England and Wales.
The surname Wixham was first found in the Oxfordshire region in England.
The surname Wyckoff is a Dutch origin surname, meaning "from the wharf." It is found mainly in America, where immigrants with the surname were among the earliest settlers arriving from Holland in the 17th century.
Wicker is a German origin surname, derived from the old High German word "wiker," meaning "Glassmaker".
The surname Wickham is derived from the Old English terms "wic" meaning "dairy farm" and "ham," meaning "home." It is speculated to have originated from a place now known as Wickham Market in Suffolk or from the town of Wickham in Hampshire, England.
Famous people with the name Wicks
- Cheryl Wicks: Professional Actress
- Chris Wicks: Professional Motorcross Racer
- Gary Wicks: Former Professional Footballer
- Henry Wicks: Former Professional Hockey Player
- Jake Wicks: Professional Musician
- Matthew Wicks: Professional Dancer
- Nancy Wicks: Professional Actress
- Richard Wicks: Professional Artist
- Robert Wicks: Professional Author
- Sarah Wicks: Professional Artist
- Tim Wicks: Professional Golfer
- William Wicks: Professional Skateboarder