Surname Wickwire - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wickwire: What does the surname Wickwire mean?
The last name Wickwire is of English and Scottish descent, and it is an anglicized version of the Old Norse and Gaelic names “wick” and “wyr”, meaning “dweller by the bay”. It is a locational name, which refers to a person who lived in an area near a bay, harbor, or inlet. The first record of the surname dates back to the late 12th century in London. In Scotland, the earliest occurrence of the name was in the parish of Aberdeenshire in the mid-14th century.
Wickwire is a spelling variation of the original spelling Wickwyr and Wigwyr. Over time, many different spelling variations of the surname emerged, including Wiekwire, Wikewire, Wickwire, Wickwair, and Wykewyr. The spelling Wickwire is most likely the original spelling, as most other variations are derived from this form.
The Wickwire name has some prominent people in its history, such as Methodist minister and visionary John Wickwire, who was an inspiration for many early New England settlers and helped to establish the first library in Harvard College in 1638. Another is postmodern painter and sculptor Dennis Wickwire, who is best known for his sculpture “Lantern”, located in Portland, Oregon.
The Wickwire surname is rooted in the early days of English and Scottish settlements. The name conveys a sense of connection with the past, and its past bearers were individuals who made their mark in history.
Order DNA origin analysisWickwire: Where does the name Wickwire come from?
The last name Wickwire is most commonly found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Wickwire surname is most prevalent in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. This is likely because it is a derivative of the Dutch name Wicqwer, which was brought to the United States when Northern Europeans emigrated to the Midwest during the 1800s.
The Wickwire surname can also be found in Canada, particularly in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. However, the Wickwire surname is much less common in Canada than it is in the United States.
In addition, the Wickwire surname can be found in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. However, the prevalence of the Wickwire surname decreases in these countries, making it much less common than its United States counterpart.
Finally, the Wickwire surname can also be found in several other countries, though it is considered relatively uncommon. These countries include Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Russia.
All in all, the Wickwire surname is most prevalently found in the United States; specifically, in the Midwestern states. However, one can also find Wickwires in other countries such as Canada, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Russia.
Variations of the surname Wickwire
The surname Wickwire is a surname with many different spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant spellings of Wickwire are Wyckwier, Wykwier, Wykkwier, Wyckwire, Wykwir, Wckwire, Wckwier, Wckwir, Wicwire, Wycwir, Wicwier, Wicwir and Wygwier.
The most common surnames with the same origin as Wickwire are Whichello, Whyckuer, Wickher, Wyckher, Wyckhert, Wyckhort, Wyckhuer, Wyckuys, Wikher, Weyckher, Weycker, Weyckert, Weyckhort, Weyckhuer, Weyckuys and Wieckher.
The origin of the Wickwire surname is uncertain. It could be of Anglo-Saxon or Dutch origin. The Anglo-Saxon variant would have derived from the Old English word ‘wic’, meaning a ‘clump of trees’, while the Dutch version is thought to come from either the Germanic ‘wiwer’, meaning ‘wood’, or the Old High German ‘wicker’, meaning ‘plaited’.
The Wickwire surname is most common in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Some notable people with the surname Wickwire are Heather Wickwire, poet, author and Professor of English at the University of South Carolina, Stephen Wickwire, American mountaineer, and Nicholas Wickwire, Canadian music producer.
Famous people with the name Wickwire
- Database researcher Peter Wickwire
- Cyclist and former basketball player Kirsten Wickwire
- Professional golfer Charles Wickwire
- Screenwriter and film producer Christopher L. Wickwire
- Record holder Charles Wickwire II
- Novelist and civil rights activist Blanche Weidenbach (formerly Blanche Wickwire)
- Playwright and theatre director Emma Wickwire Sullivan
- University of Baltimore professor James A. Wickwire
- Director and producer Emma Wickwire
- Novelist Deborah Wickwire