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

Wicks, 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 Wicks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wicks in America

Wicks is the 3735th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wicks surname appeared 9,489 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 Wicks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wicks 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wicks

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

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

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

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