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

Wick, 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 Wick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wick in America

Wick is the 4253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wick surname appeared 8,333 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Wick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wick 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wick

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

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 Wick 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 Wick 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 Wick was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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