Surname Wike - Meaning and Origin

Wike: What does the surname Wike mean?

The last name Wike is a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a place name. There is disagreement about where this place is located, with some sources suggesting the name is from, or derived from, Wyke in Kent and others suggesting Wyke in either Northumberland or Dorset.

The earliest records of Wike as a last name date back to the 1500s and 1600s when they can be found in records from both Kent and Northumberland. The records from Kent indicate the name being used in a variety of spelling variations. It is possible that the different spellings of the name came about because people moved between different areas and adopted the local pronunciation of the name. However, it is also possible that the different spellings are the result of changes in the spelling of words over time.

There is no conclusive answer as to the specific origin of the last name Wike, and the theories about the origin of the name may never be fully confirmed. However, it is likely that this toponymic from originated in either Kent, Northumberland or Dorset. It is also possible that the same name was adopted by families in all three counties.

Wike: Where does the name Wike come from?

The last name Wike is associated with the areas of Northern England and Scandinavian countries. In England, it is particularly common in County Durham, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. In Scandinavia, the name is found in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The name Wike is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “wic” which means “trading settlement” or “village”. These settlements were often located on the coast or by a river. During the Viking era, the name Wike was adopted as a surname to represent people who lived in these settlements.

In addition to its presence in England and Scandinavia, the last name Wike is also found in the United States of America as well as in Canada and Australia. In the US, the highest figure of people with the name is in Pennsylvania, making up about 1.5 percent of the population there.

In the past, the Wike surname likely changed according to the area the family was living in. For example, in the Yorkshire area, the spelling Wike is still found, while in Lancashire, the spelling evolved into Wyke. Today, it appears that the traditional spelling is being adopted more often.

There is evidence to suggest the surname is becoming more widespread across various countries over the past decades. A combination of immigration, marriage and the digitization of records have helped the name reach a more global audience. With this globalization of the name, it is likely that the last name Wike will continue to become more common in the future.

Variations of the surname Wike

Wike is an English surname with multiple variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname Wike include Wyke, Wykes, Weakes, Wieck, Wiek and Wieczorek. Spellings of the same can include Wick, Wyck, Wicke, Wycke, Weekes and Wickes. Other surnames of the same origin include Wiles, Wilks, Wilkes, Wilkeson, Wilkson, Wilkinson, Wilkins, and Wilcockson.

The origin of the surname Wike is believed to come from the Old English words wīc and -ing, which were terms that referred to a people of the same name, or a settlement. This settlement could also have been in reference to someone living near a dairy farm or in a dairy- producing area. The surname Wike could also have been derived from other Anglo-Saxon sources, such as the personal name Wicca, which was popular among pagans in the middle ages.

A variety of different spellings for the surname Wike have arisen through mishearings, mispronunciations, or the influences of other languages. The spelling variants such as Wyck, Wykes, Wick, Wicke, and Wynkes are known to have been found in Britain. The variation with the most common spelling is Weekes or Wykes.

Most variants of the Wike surname are found mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and English- speaking countries in North America, as well as some regions of Europe. The surname can be found going back to the 14th century in the UK census records from 1379 to 1388, during the tumultuous reign of Richard II. Today, the Wike surname is most commonly found in England, where it ranks as the 6,472nd most popular surname.

Famous people with the name Wike

• Paul Wike: A stuntman and actor who has performed stunts in numerous Hollywood films including the The Avengers, Jurassic World, Deadpool, and Wonder Woman.
• Meg Wike: A professional photographer and multi-media artist based in Portland, Oregon.
• Eric Wike: An Emmy Award-winning cinematographer who worked on the acclaimed TV series Seinfeld, The Walking Dead, and Parks and Recreation.
• John Wike: A successful aerospace engineer who worked at NASA for 24 years before retiring in 2014.
• James Wike: A former college football star who is now a highly successful television personality and host of the reality TV show Biggest Loser.
• Richard Wike: An internationally-recognized pollster and professor of Political Science at The University of Pennsylvania.
• Samantha Wike: A country singer-songwriter whose singles "Love Me Like You Do" and "Pretty Crazy" both reached the Billboard charts in 2019.
• Ajmal Wike: A renowned international corporate attorney who has held senior positions at top law firms in New York City and Los Angeles.
• Christina Wike: A popular online entrepreneur and YouTube vlogger who hosts a weekly series about home decor and lifestyle.
• Roger Wike: An award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author whose latest book, The American Revolution, was published in 2019.

Other surnames

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