NameCensus.

UK surname

Wick

From a place name derived from the Old Norse word "vík," meaning a bay or small port.

In the 1881 census there were 523 people recorded with the Wick surname, ranking it #6,537 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 574, ranked #9,007, down from #6,537 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eversden, Little, Tibbenham and Kirkwall and St.Ola. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Mainland, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wick is 648 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

523

Ranked #6,537

Modern count

574

2016, ranked #9,007

Peak year

1891

648 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wick had 523 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,537 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016, ranked #9,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 648 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wick surname distribution map

The map shows where the Wick surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Wick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wick over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 338 #6,943
1861 historical 590 #4,480
1881 historical 523 #6,537
1891 historical 648 #5,987
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 634 #6,555
1997 modern 530 #8,911
1998 modern 538 #9,073
1999 modern 552 #8,959
2000 modern 534 #9,157
2001 modern 527 #9,097
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 514 #9,299
2004 modern 500 #9,529
2005 modern 485 #9,647
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 491 #9,689
2008 modern 504 #9,575
2009 modern 519 #9,578
2010 modern 522 #9,739
2011 modern 516 #9,731
2012 modern 524 #9,541
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 544 #9,476
2015 modern 559 #9,180
2016 modern 574 #9,007

Geography

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Where Wicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eversden, Little, Tibbenham, Kirkwall and St.Ola, London parishes and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Mainland, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, North Norfolk and Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Eversden, Little Cambridgeshire
2 Tibbenham Norfolk
3 Kirkwall and St.Ola Orkney
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Mainland Orkney Islands
2 Huntingdonshire 014 Huntingdonshire
3 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
4 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk
5 Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness Orkney Islands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wick

These lists show first names that appear often with the Wick surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wick, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Wick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Wick is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wick is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wick falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wick

The surname Wick is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "wic," which means a dwelling, village, or hamlet. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a small settlement or village.

In the Domesday Book, a vital medieval census compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror, there are several entries for places containing the word "wick," such as Upwyk, Wyke, and Wyken. These entries provide evidence of the early existence and usage of the name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Wick was William de Wyk, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the 13th century. Another early instance is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named William de la Wyke is mentioned.

The surname Wick has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Wyke Regis in Dorset, Wickham in Hampshire, and Wyke in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Wick throughout history are:

1. Sir Peter Wick (c. 1592-1658), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hereford. 2. John Wick (c. 1677-1737), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in the East. 3. William Wick (1796-1865), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana. 4. Gustav Wick (1867-1935), a German botanist and professor at the University of Berlin, known for his contributions to plant physiology. 5. Gian-Carlo Wick (1909-1992), a Swiss physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics.

The surname Wick has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Wicke, Wyke, Wycke, and Wike, reflecting the regional pronunciations and influences of different dialects in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wick surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 120 Wicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.36x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 120 15.36x
Middlesex 60 1.18x
Cambridgeshire 49 15.22x
Surrey 49 1.98x
Durham 43 2.84x
Hertfordshire 39 11.13x
Kent 35 2.02x
Yorkshire 29 0.58x
Orkney 18 32.19x
Devon 8 0.76x
Essex 8 0.80x
Lincolnshire 8 0.98x
Lancashire 7 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 8.16x
Monmouthshire 5 1.36x
Berkshire 4 1.05x
Lanarkshire 4 0.24x
Warwickshire 4 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.98x
Gloucestershire 3 0.30x
Herefordshire 3 1.44x
Midlothian 3 0.44x
Somerset 3 0.37x
Sussex 3 0.35x
Northumberland 2 0.26x
Angus 1 0.21x
Bedfordshire 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Hormead in Hertfordshire leads with 33 Wicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3666.67x.

Place Total Index
Great Hormead 33 3666.67x
Tibenham 31 2818.18x
Little Eversden 26 7027.03x
Kingston On Thames 20 33.62x
Wells Next Sea 20 438.60x
Deptford St Paul 14 10.47x
Beverley St Martin 13 154.58x
Kirkwall St Ola 13 155.32x
Camberwell 11 3.39x
Houghton Le Spring 11 105.26x
Great Eversden 9 1914.89x
Hackney London 9 3.16x
Attleborough 7 177.22x
Bale 7 1707.32x
Bexley 7 45.66x
Croydon 7 5.09x
Downham Market 7 130.35x
Heigham 7 16.69x
St Pancras London 7 1.71x
Stockley 7 364.58x
Willesden 7 14.61x
Anstey 6 869.57x
Chapel Allerton 6 79.58x
Chilham 6 242.92x
Kelton 6 99.34x
Medomsley 6 85.11x
Shildon 6 49.38x
Tudhoe 6 45.35x
Bermondsey 5 3.30x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 20.64x
Hunslet 5 6.37x
Norwich St Paul 5 106.84x
Teddington London 5 43.40x
Tilney St Lawrence 5 396.83x
Erith 4 23.42x
Kensington London 4 1.42x
Mepal 4 606.06x
St Andrews Deerness 4 136.05x
Walpole St Peter 4 202.02x
Aberystruth 3 9.26x
Aylesbury 3 22.04x
Bradford 3 2.46x
Colchester St Leonard 3 92.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.10x
Field Dalling 3 526.32x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 3 566.04x
Great Snoring 3 370.37x
Harrow 3 38.61x
Hendon 3 16.40x
Paddington London 3 1.61x
Shettleston 3 20.38x
Shoreditch London 3 1.36x
St Marylebone London 3 1.11x
Stranton 3 5.89x
Sydenham Damerel 3 365.85x
Aston 2 0.57x
Battersea 2 1.07x
Boston 2 8.11x
Bromley London 2 1.79x
Burnham Westgate 2 118.34x
Harlton 2 370.37x
Harts Grounds 2 1428.57x
Holkham 2 212.77x
Ifton 2 3333.33x
Igborough 2 625.00x
Lambeth 2 0.45x
Leyton Low 2 9.81x
Shipton Moyne 2 270.27x
St Marythe Less 2 102.04x
Tottenham 2 2.47x
Toxteth Park 2 0.98x
Walford 2 96.62x
Waltham St Lawrence 2 134.23x
Wedmore 2 37.59x
Weston Colville 2 219.78x
Wymondham 2 25.03x
Bawburgh 1 135.14x
Brighton 1 0.58x
Muggleswick 1 68.49x
Westminster St John 1 1.62x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 13
Eliza 10
Ellen 9
Alice 8
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Ann 7
Charlotte 7
Emma 7
Jane 7
Hannah 6
Maria 6
Martha 6
Louisa 5
Margaret 5
Anna 4
Caroline 4
Rebecca 4
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Ruth 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Marian 2
Marianne 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Carrie 1
Engilina 1
Erenica 1
Ernest 1
Esther 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Isabella 1
Jamie 1
Kezia 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 35
George 20
Charles 18
William 18
James 15
Thomas 10
Alfred 9
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Harry 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Anthony 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Jonas 2
Mathew 2
Noah 2
Reuben 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Bengimore 1
Chas. 1
Davis 1
Dennis 1
Ellis 1
Fearwood 1
Francis 1
Fredr. 1
Fredrick 1
Georje 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Johnathan 1
Kenneth 1
Leonard 1
Miles 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Wick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 523 people were recorded with the Wick surname. That placed it at #6,537 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016. That gives Wick a modern rank of #9,007.

What does the Wick surname mean?

From a place name derived from the Old Norse word "vík," meaning a bay or small port.

What does the Wick map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wick bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.