UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who made wicks for candles or oil lamps.
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Wickman surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Eccles, St Werburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wickman is 181 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.4%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1911
181 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wickman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wickman surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 155 | #14,881 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 137 | #19,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 181 | #15,911 |
| 1997 | modern | 83 | #29,216 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 42 | #34,222 |
| 2005 | modern | 42 | #34,395 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 52 | #34,726 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Eccles, St Werburgh, Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Reigate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 2 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Reigate | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wickman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wickman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wickman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wickman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wickman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wickman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wickman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wickman is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "wic" meaning a dwelling or farm, and "mann" meaning a person or man. This suggests that the name originated from a place where a person lived or worked on a farm or small settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wicman" in the county of Oxfordshire. This ancient record provides evidence that the name was already in use during the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England.
Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Wickman, Wycman, and Wyckman, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. These alternative spellings can be traced back to historical records from the 13th to 16th centuries.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Richard Wickman was recorded as a landowner in the village of Weston, Hertfordshire. His descendants likely carried on the surname, contributing to its spread and establishment in the region.
During the 16th century, a prominent Wickman family resided in the town of Ipswich, Suffolk. John Wickman (1524-1592) was a respected merchant and alderman in the town, leaving a lasting legacy through his business endeavors and civic contributions.
Another notable individual with the surname Wickman was William Wickman (1672-1745), a renowned clockmaker from London. His intricate and precise timepieces were highly sought after by nobility and affluent patrons, earning him a reputation as one of the finest clockmakers of his era.
In the 18th century, the Wickman name can be found in various parish records across counties like Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Lincolnshire, suggesting its widespread distribution throughout England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wickman surname in America dates back to the late 17th century, when Thomas Wickman (1658-1732) immigrated from England and settled in Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous farmer and landowner.
As the centuries passed, the Wickman surname continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, artisans, merchants, and professionals, contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage and history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wickman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 18 Wickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.62x |
| Surrey | 15 | 3.29x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 4.24x |
| Derbyshire | 9 | 6.14x |
| Kent | 9 | 2.82x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.96x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.97x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 3.65x |
| Sussex | 3 | 1.90x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.72x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 2.27x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pendleton In Salford in Lancashire leads with 11 Wickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Pendleton In Salford | 11 | 83.08x |
| Aston | 8 | 12.30x |
| Reigate Borough | 8 | 761.90x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 7 | 82.74x |
| Portsea | 7 | 18.61x |
| Cranbrook | 5 | 370.37x |
| Drypool | 5 | 352.11x |
| Manchester | 4 | 8.01x |
| Newington | 4 | 11.56x |
| Eccleshill | 3 | 132.74x |
| Mile End Old Town | 3 | 20.30x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.54x |
| Broadwater | 2 | 55.25x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 24.13x |
| Derby All Sts | 2 | 163.93x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 3.84x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.65x |
| Sunderland | 2 | 40.65x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.46x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.14x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 16.34x |
| Brixworth | 1 | 263.16x |
| Edinburgh St Johns | 1 | 126.58x |
| Erith | 1 | 31.75x |
| Ewell | 1 | 104.17x |
| Godstone | 1 | 121.95x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.34x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 6.79x |
| Hythe St Leonard | 1 | 88.50x |
| Leatherhead | 1 | 87.72x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.91x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 5.87x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.90x |
| Pilton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Sevenoaks | 1 | 38.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wickman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wickman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wickman households.
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Wickman surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Wickman a modern rank of #34,838.
An occupational surname for someone who made wicks for candles or oil lamps.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wickman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.