Surname Wickens - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wickens: What does the surname Wickens mean?
The last name Wickens is a patronymic name, which is a surname derived from the father's given name. This is a type of name which is particularly common in English-speaking countries. It is believed the Wickens surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, particularly associated with the county of Yorkshire, which is the ancient kingdom of Northumbria. This region is where the Wickens surname has been found more commonly over the centuries.
The Wickens surname is derived from the first name ‘Wicca’ which means a wizard, or a diviner, or wise person. The prefix "Wick" meaning ‘son of a wizard’ is thought to be a distinct development of the ancient given name. Over the centuries, the Wickens surname was adopted and passed down through families, which is how it became an independent family name.
The first written reference of the surname is from the 14th century, where it was recorded in the York silk makers’ guild. The Wickens family established itself in various districts and counties across the United Kingdom and later abroad as well. During the 19th century, the surname was particularly common in Norfolk and in some parts of Yorkshire.
Variations of the name, including Wickens, Wickenson, and Wicken, remain popular throughout England to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisWickens: Where does the name Wickens come from?
The last name Wickens is most common today in the United Kingdom, where it is the 2264th most common surname. The majority of households with the surname live in the South East of England, particularly in and around London. The name is also found in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, but at a much lower rate of prevalence.
The name Wickens is thought to be of English origin, and derived from the Old English personal name Wicca – meaning ‘worshipper or believer’ – with the word ‘son’ added to the end. It’s possible that its origin might also be associated with the location where a family originally lived, such as ‘from the wicking settlement’ or denoting an ancient tribal name.
It is documented that the Wickens family were settled in Norfolk since at least the 13th century and it seems likely that this is where the surname likely first emerged. Another early reference to the surname was noted in the Times of 10 November 1739 which referred to the proceedings in Westminster regarding a dividend of a portion of the estate of Elizabeth Wickens, spinster.
Today, Wickens is still found most commonly within the United Kingdom. In the recent UK census data, the most popular region for households with Wickens as their last name is the South East, followed closely by London.
Variations of the surname Wickens
The spelling and variants of the surname Wickens are Wicken, Wycken, Wyckens, Wikens, Wykens and Wickins.
The origins of the Wickens surname can be traced back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The surname Wickens is derived from the Middle English given name Wyken. This name was initially derived from the Old English personal name Wecca, which originally meant 'a warrior'.
The Wickens surname has had many historical spellings over time, including Wicken, Wycken, Wyckens, Wikens, Wykens and Wickins. The spelling of a surname depends on the time period of the bearer and the location that he or she is living in. It is important to note that spelling variations often occurred even within the same family.
Due to the various spelling variations, the variants Wickens and Wickins have been largely confused in many records, although they are distinct surnames. In the US, the name Wickens has also been mistakenly recorded as Wickeins, whereas other variants such as Wikens have been recorded as Wikenson.
The Wickens surname was mainly found in the English Midlands, the West Midlands, and the counties of Lancashire, Derbyshire and Cheshire. Today, the family name Wickens is still widely found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Wales. This surname is also prevalent in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
Famous people with the name Wickens
- Robert Wickens: Professional race car driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series.
- Karl Wickens: former infielder in Major League Baseball.
- David Wickens: former professional footballer.
- Tracy Wickens: former motocross racer.
- Colin Wickens: former English cricketer.
- Norman Wickens: British professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
- Roberta Wickens: Canadian volleyball player that represented Canada at the 1992 Olympics.
- Morgan Wickens: former professional Canadian ice hockey player.
- Derek Wicken: Canadian football player.
- Kyle Wickens: Canadian midfielder for FC Edmonton in the Canadian Premier League.
- Hannah Wickens: British actress.
- Jenny Wickens: former English television and film actress.
- John Wickens: former English professional cricketer.
- Paul Wickens: British musician and former keyboardist for Paul McCartney.
- Liz Wickens: British cyclist.
- Victoria Wickens: contemporary British jewelry designer.