NameCensus.

UK surname

Wicks

From the Old English word "wic," referring to a farm, settlement, or dwelling place.

In the 1881 census there were 4,203 people recorded with the Wicks surname, ranking it #1,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,316, ranked #1,266, down from #1,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Reading and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wicks is 5,657 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.

1881 census count

4,203

Ranked #1,070

Modern count

5,316

2016, ranked #1,266

Peak year

1999

5,657 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wicks had 4,203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,316 in 2016, ranked #1,266.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,548 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wicks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wicks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wicks 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 2,809 #1,040
1861 historical 2,970 #969
1881 historical 4,203 #1,070
1891 historical 4,800 #968
1901 historical 5,192 #1,081
1911 historical 5,548 #941
1997 modern 5,418 #1,200
1998 modern 5,580 #1,216
1999 modern 5,657 #1,205
2000 modern 5,562 #1,225
2001 modern 5,414 #1,231
2002 modern 5,509 #1,240
2003 modern 5,409 #1,231
2004 modern 5,373 #1,236
2005 modern 5,259 #1,241
2006 modern 5,219 #1,250
2007 modern 5,221 #1,261
2008 modern 5,258 #1,265
2009 modern 5,388 #1,260
2010 modern 5,514 #1,256
2011 modern 5,371 #1,279
2012 modern 5,270 #1,271
2013 modern 5,367 #1,271
2014 modern 5,393 #1,273
2015 modern 5,337 #1,270
2016 modern 5,316 #1,266

Geography

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Where Wicks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Reading, Forest of Dean, Waveney and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 011 Wiltshire
2 Reading 015 Reading
3 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
4 Waveney 005 Waveney
5 Cornwall 062 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wicks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wicks

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wicks, 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 Wicks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wicks 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

London Fringe

Within London, Wicks is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Wicks is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wicks falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wicks 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 Wicks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wicks

The surname WICKS originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "wic," meaning a dwelling, camp, or village. This suggests that the name was likely initially given to someone who lived in a small settlement or hamlet.

The earliest recorded instance of the WICKS surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Wiche" and "Wyke." This indicates that the name was already established in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In medieval times, the WICKS surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire in southwestern England. Many of the early bearers of this name likely hailed from these regions, where place names such as Wyke and Wycombe were common.

One notable individual from history bearing the WICKS surname was Robert Wicks (c. 1385-1448), a Catholic theologian and philosopher from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was a significant figure in the intellectual life of 15th-century England and wrote extensively on various theological and philosophical topics.

Another historical figure with the WICKS surname was John Wicks (c. 1550-1619), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Thetford and later the Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was known for his writings on religious and historical subjects.

In the 17th century, Thomas Wicks (1619-1680) was a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Charles II. He was active in local affairs and played a role in the political upheavals of the English Civil War period.

Moving into the 18th century, Francis Wicks (1727-1795) was an English artist and engraver who gained recognition for his landscape paintings and prints. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are now held in various museum collections.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was William Wicks (1828-1891), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. His most famous work is the Church of St. James the Less in Bethnal Green, which remains a notable example of Victorian Gothic architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wicks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wicks 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. Middlesex leads with 894 Wicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 894 2.17x
Surrey 545 2.72x
Berkshire 381 12.34x
Wiltshire 280 7.70x
Kent 240 1.71x
Norfolk 235 3.72x
Sussex 231 3.33x
Essex 171 2.11x
Gloucestershire 149 1.85x
Suffolk 109 2.18x
Oxfordshire 88 3.47x
Yorkshire 86 0.21x
Hertfordshire 77 2.72x
Cornwall 70 1.50x
Somerset 67 1.01x
Hampshire 66 0.78x
Lancashire 56 0.11x
Lincolnshire 53 0.81x
Warwickshire 45 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 44 1.77x
Staffordshire 33 0.24x
Devon 31 0.36x
Monmouthshire 28 0.94x
Derbyshire 20 0.31x
Northamptonshire 18 0.47x
Bedfordshire 17 0.80x
Leicestershire 16 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 15 1.84x
Northumberland 14 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 12 0.46x
Dorset 12 0.44x
Shropshire 12 0.34x
Cheshire 11 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.20x
Channel Islands 10 0.82x
Cumberland 10 0.28x
Worcestershire 9 0.17x
Glamorgan 7 0.10x
Lanarkshire 6 0.05x
Royal Navy 6 1.22x
Durham 5 0.04x
Midlothian 4 0.07x
Berwickshire 3 0.60x
Fife 3 0.12x
Brecknockshire 2 0.24x
Denbighshire 2 0.13x
East Lothian 2 0.37x
Renfrewshire 2 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.06x
Merionethshire 1 0.13x
Peeblesshire 1 0.52x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x
Rutland 1 0.33x
Westmorland 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 93 Wicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.81x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 93 2.81x
Lambeth 80 2.23x
Reading St Giles 75 24.77x
Reading St Mary 73 29.53x
Kensington London 64 2.80x
Islington London 62 1.56x
St Marylebone London 60 2.73x
Croydon 57 5.13x
Bethnal Green London 46 2.58x
Brighton 46 3.29x
Paddington London 44 2.91x
Shoreditch London 43 2.41x
Hullavington 40 454.03x
Newington 40 2.63x
Reigate Foreign 35 16.13x
Hampstead London 32 5.00x
St Luke London 31 4.70x
Hackney London 30 1.30x
Trowbridge 30 18.66x
Clerkenwell London 28 2.89x
Camberwell 27 1.03x
Tonbridge 27 5.34x
Portsea 24 1.45x
Battersea 23 1.52x
Greenwich 23 3.51x
Caversham 22 43.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 22 2.66x
Colerne 21 140.94x
Egham 21 17.07x
Melksham 21 33.26x
Fulham London 20 3.35x
Hammersmith London 20 1.97x
Hurst 20 49.52x
Igborough 19 730.77x
Bedminster 18 2.89x
Bristol St James St Paul 18 6.69x
Broadwater 18 11.32x
Harrow On The Hill 18 21.91x
Hornsey 18 3.46x
Reading St Lawrence 18 27.26x
Bermondsey 17 1.39x
Hove 17 5.59x
Mile End Old Town 17 2.62x
Waltham Holy Cross 17 22.41x
Walton On Thames 17 18.48x
Betchworth 16 64.75x
Chertsey 16 12.36x
Leicester St Margaret 16 1.44x
Tottenham 16 2.44x
Wendron 16 24.76x
Bromley London 15 1.66x
Chelsea London 15 1.21x
Fyfield 15 316.46x
Lowestoft 15 6.34x
Speen 15 29.70x
Waltham St Lawrence 15 124.17x
West Ham 15 0.84x
Barrow In Furness 14 2.11x
Kingston On Thames 14 2.91x
Streatham 14 4.59x
Truro St Mary 14 35.80x
Aldershot 13 4.60x
Biddestone St Nicholas 13 225.30x
Birmingham 13 0.38x
Bocking 13 26.63x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 13 13.83x
Luton 13 3.53x
Middlesbrough 13 2.45x
Monckton Combe 13 61.47x
Staines 13 19.97x
Walsall Foreign 13 1.81x
Walthamstow 13 4.45x
Downton 12 25.22x
Great Cornard 12 105.91x
Great Grimsby 12 2.88x
Hunstanton 12 56.21x
Laleham 12 154.44x
Leckhampstead 12 273.97x
Liddiard Millicent 12 96.15x
Uckfield 12 39.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 232
Elizabeth 157
Sarah 135
Eliza 84
Emma 82
Emily 78
Ellen 74
Alice 71
Jane 69
Ann 57
Annie 55
Louisa 39
Harriet 36
Kate 33
Edith 32
Maria 31
Martha 30
Ada 29
Florence 28
Caroline 27
Charlotte 27
Hannah 26
Lucy 26
Clara 25
Fanny 22
Susan 21
Anne 18
Margaret 17
Amelia 16
Catherine 14
Elizth. 14
Frances 14
Harriett 14
Rose 14
Sophia 13
Esther 12
Rebecca 12
Agnes 11
Beatrice 11
Eleanor 11
Ethel 11
Gertrude 10
Matilda 10
Jessie 9
Laura 9
Amy 8
Minnie 8
Rosa 8
Susannah 8
Lydia 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 258
George 211
John 186
Charles 117
Thomas 113
Henry 110
James 106
Alfred 65
Frederick 58
Edward 53
Arthur 52
Robert 52
Walter 50
Joseph 46
Albert 39
Richard 39
Samuel 27
Harry 22
Herbert 22
Edwin 19
Benjamin 18
Ernest 17
Francis 17
Frank 17
David 12
Fredrick 9
Stephen 9
Edgar 8
Fredk. 8
Jesse 8
Thos. 8
Tom 8
Daniel 7
Mark 7
Fred 6
Amos 5
Edmund 5
Geo. 5
Isaac 5
Jas. 5
Percy 5
Willm. 5
Chas. 4
Infant 4
Matthew 4
Sidney 4
Sydney 4
Wm. 4
Alexander 3
Spencer 3

FAQ

Wicks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wicks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,203 people were recorded with the Wicks surname. That placed it at #1,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wicks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,316 in 2016. That gives Wicks a modern rank of #1,266.

What does the Wicks surname mean?

From the Old English word "wic," referring to a farm, settlement, or dwelling place.

What does the Wicks map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wicks 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.