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

Wickliffe, 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 Wickliffe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wickliffe in America

Wickliffe is the 22618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wickliffe surname appeared 1,135 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wickliffe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wickliffe 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 Wickliffe

The surname Wickliffe originates from England, particularly from the medieval period. Its etymology is rooted in Old English, where it is derived from the elements "wic," meaning a dwelling or village, and "clif," meaning a slope or cliff. As a topographical surname, it likely referred to someone who lived near or on a village slope. The name's origin points to places in England known as Wickliffe or Wickcliffe, which were common in medieval times.

Historically, the surname appears in various records, suggesting its reasonably widespread use. Although the Domesday Book does not specifically mention Wickliffe, it is within the lexicon of surnames that emerged in the aftermath of the Norman conquest of England. Medieval manuscripts and parish registers from the 12th and 13th centuries contain various spellings of the name, including Wyclif and Wicklif.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname was John Wycliffe (c. 1320-1384), an influential theologian and early advocate for Church reform. Born in Yorkshire, Wycliffe's teachings and translations of the Bible into English laid the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation. He is often referred to as the "Morning Star of the Reformation."

In records from the 14th century, the name appears in variations such as Wiclif and Wiclef, particularly in ecclesiastical documents. These variations emphasize the name's consistency in terms of its geographical association but show the fluidity in its spelling. Another notable figure was Ralph de Wyclef, who appears in legal documents from 1311, emphasizing the name's establishment among the English gentry.

Henry Wickliffe, a distinguished member of the English clergy, was recorded in the 15th century. He is noted in various church records, which highlights the surname's association with religious and educated classes during that period. Wickliffe's presence in these documents underlines the family's ongoing significance over centuries.

In more recent history, novelist and publicist Robert Wickliffe Cooper (1827-1895) carried the surname into the United States. He was prominent in 19th-century political and literary circles, emphasizing the surname's persistence and adaptability outside its original English context.

In the 17th century, James Wickliffe appears in colonial records, specifically in documents pertaining to early American settlers. His presence underscores the surname's expansion beyond England and its integration into new cultural contexts. This period marks the diaspora of the name as families moved and settled in different parts of the world.

Overall, the surname Wickliffe has a rich historical lineage, deeply rooted in English topography and medieval church history. Its bearers have played significant roles across various professions and regions, marking their enduring legacy from Yorkshire villages to the broader world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wickliffe

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

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

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

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