Surname Wycoff - Meaning and Origin
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Wycoff: What does the surname Wycoff mean?
The last name Wycoff is thought to be of Dutch origin and is an anglicized version of the Dutch name Wicoff or Wijcoff. Wycoff means 'from the village of Wijk' which is an old-fashioned Dutch name for any small village. In Dutch, "wijk" means a small settlement or hamlet and "off" means a piece of land.
The surname Wycoff then signifies that the ancestor of the original owner of the surname was born, raised, or lived in the small settlement or hamlet of Wijk at some point in time. This usage of the Dutch language to provide a geographical clue as to the origin of an ancestor is not uncommon among ancestral names.
The suffix "-off" usually meant low-lying ground that is suitable for farming or agriculture and indicates an ancestor who may have been a farmer or a landowner of some sort. In other words, the Wycoff family name likely originated from an ancestor who owned a farm in the small village of Wijk.
The Wycoff surname also conjures up images of the Middle Ages when the Low Countries of Europe were an important belt in Europe's commerce and trade. During those days, it was common for locals to have two names — a more formal name to use in legal documents and a more informal, colloquial name used in everyday life. The Dutch form of the surname — Wijcoff — was likely the more common or informal name, while Wycoff is thought to be the more formal anglicized version.
Order DNA origin analysisWycoff: Where does the name Wycoff come from?
The last name Wycoff is an uncommon surname, but can be found scattered throughout the United States, especially in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. The states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York each have a large population of people with the last name Wycoff. Some of these people are likely descended from Palatine German immigrants with this surname who arrived in the United States during the 18th century.
The Wycoff surname can also be found in many other countries, particularly in Europe. For example, there are Wycoffs living in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and France, likely descended from emigrants who journeyed across the sea in search of a better quality of life.
Outside of the United States, some of the countries with the largest populations of the surname Wycoff include Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa. It’s possible that these families may be connected in some way to the ancestors of the original American immigrants who traveled east in the 1700s.
In general, the Wycoff name is not overly common, compared to other more popular surnames. But the Wycoffs who can be found in the United States and beyond are likely descended from hard-working and kind-hearted people who had the courage to journey to new and uncertain lands in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Wycoff
The surname Wycoff is derived from various spellings such as Wicoff, Wykoff, Wykof, Wickoff, Wikoff, Wikof, and others. These variations are mainly based on the Dutch and German dialects from which the surname originates.
The most common variant of this surname is the Dutch version, Wycoff. This version can be derived from a Low German town called Wykoff. Records of this surname can be found in the Netherlands from as far back as the 17th century. The German version of this surname is Wicoff or Wickoff and is found in the same region.
Compilations of early documents showcase multiple spellings of the surname. Some of these spellings include Wikof, Wycof, Wykoff, Wikoff, Wykof, Wikof, and others. The appearance of these alternate spellings is a result of the common practices in which scribes were unintelligible in recording proper names, and the habit of habitants of adopting alternative spellings of their surnames.
In the United States, the Wycoff surname is most common in Pennsylvania. Other notable versions include Wyckoff, Wykoff, and Wyckoff—all of which have Dutch origins.
The variations mentioned above, as well as other versions, such as Wyckoff, Wykoff, and Wyckoff, are all considered derived from the same, singular surname, Wycoff. This is why you may find someone using this surname with more than one spelling.
Famous people with the name Wycoff
- Julie Wycoff: Julie is a Canadian-American actor known for her roles in “The Accused” (1988) and “Murder in the First” (1995).
- William Wycoff: William is an American composer known for writing and arranging music for “The Nutcracker Suite” and “American in Paris”.
- Arthur Wycoff: Arthur was an American businessman and the founder of Wycoff Automotive Group.
- Elizabeth Wycoff: Elizabeth is a British sculptor renowned for her work in public spaces and exhibitions.
- Van Wycoff: Van is an American ice hockey player, who has played with several NHL teams.
- Bob Wycoff: Bob was an American basketball coach best known for his time as the head coach of Kentucky Wildcats from 1967- 1971.
- Ed Wycoff: Ed is an American actor who has appeared in several television and film projects.
- Steve Wycoff: Steve is a guitarist and founding member of the band "Big Head Todd and the Monsters”.
- Don Wycoff: Don is an American physical therapist and the director of the Sports Performance and Enhancement Institute in Florida.
- Debra Wycoff: Debra is an American artist best known for her mosaics and use of bright and bold colors.