Find out how popular the last name Hicks is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hicks.

Hicks, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hicks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hicks in America

Hicks is the 170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hicks surname appeared 158,320 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 54 people would have the surname Hicks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hicks to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hicks

The surname Hicks has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "hick," which was used as a nickname for someone who lived in a remote rural area or a small village. This nickname likely evolved from the Old English word "hyccian," meaning "to stutter or stammer."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hicks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1275, which contained records of landholders in England. The name appeared in various spellings such as "Hicke," "Hycke," and "Hik." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling during that time period.

The Hicks surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hicks Mill in Gloucestershire and Hicks Farm in Somerset. This suggests that some families may have adopted the name based on their place of residence or ownership of land.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Hicks throughout history is Sir Baptist Hicks (1551-1629), a wealthy merchant and member of the English gentry. He served as a Member of Parliament and was instrumental in the founding of Campden, a town in Gloucestershire.

Another prominent figure was Sir Michael Hicks (1543-1612), a member of the English Parliament and a wealthy landowner. He served as Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer during the reign of King James I.

In the literary world, Thomas Hicks (1838-1899) was an English author and journalist best known for his novel "Aloysius Petre; or, The Oxford Scout." He also wrote several works on historical topics.

The artist Edward Hicks (1780-1849), born in Pennsylvania, was a renowned American folk painter known for his "Peaceable Kingdom" series, which depicted scenes of harmony between humans, animals, and nature.

Another notable individual was Elias Hicks (1748-1830), an American Quaker minister and influential figure in the Quaker movement. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and promoted a more liberal interpretation of Quaker doctrine.

Throughout its history, the surname Hicks has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from merchants and landowners to artists and religious leaders. While its origins may have been humble, the name has left an indelible mark across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hicks

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hicks.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hicks was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hicks has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hicks was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hicks, please contact us.

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