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

Wilcock, 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 Wilcock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilcock in America

Wilcock is the 28552nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilcock surname appeared 835 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 Wilcock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilcock 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 Wilcock

The surname Wilcock has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. Specifically, it is thought to emerge during the 12th and 13th centuries. The name is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The surname is derived from the combination of the personal name Wil or Will, which is a diminutive form of William, and the diminutive suffix cock. The suffix cock was often used in medieval England to denote a young lad or son. Therefore, Wilcock essentially means "son of little Will" or "young William."

Historical references to the name Wilcock can be found in various records and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246, where a Roger Wilcoc is mentioned. This indicates the surname was already in use by the 13th century.

In terms of earlier spellings, variations such as Wilcoc, Wilcoke, and Wilcox have been noted in historical documents. In the Poll Tax records for Yorkshire, dated 1379, a reference to one Richard Wilcock can be found, highlighting the evolving spellings and continued use of the name.

Several notable people through history bore the surname Wilcock. For instance, John Wilcock, born in 1520, was notable in the town of Ripon, Yorkshire for his role in local governance. Another significant figure was Edward Wilcock, a merchant in the early 17th century, born in 1590 and involved in the wool trade in Lancashire.

In the literary world, there was Justin Wilcock, an English poet in the late 18th century, born in 1765. His works contributed to the romantic literary movement of his time. Moving to more modern history, Wilfred Wilcock, born in 1889, was an influential engineer during the early 20th century who played a role in the development of British engineering practices.

In the realm of science, Dr. Roger Wilcock, born in 1935, made significant contributions to the field of chemistry, particularly in the development of pharmaceutical compounds. His work gained recognition in the scientific community throughout his career.

The surname Wilcock illustrates a rich history deeply rooted in England and showcases the transformations the name has undergone through the centuries, from its origins to its notable bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilcock

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

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

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

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