Map of England showing where the Wicks arms are recorded
The Wicks arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Wicks arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Wicks Family in England
The surname Wicks is primarily of English origin and is classified as a topographic name. It was historically used to describe someone who lived near a dairy farm, a specialized building, or a small settlement, as the word derived from the Old English term "wic." By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in various parts of England for several generations. During the early 17th century, families in northern cities like York often worked in trades related to the growing wool and cloth industries. As the family settled into this urban environment, they became part of the shifting social landscape of the era, moving away from rural agricultural roots toward the developing commercial life of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
vicus
A Latin term referring to a village, district, or row of houses.
This name
WicksDerived from a topographic name for someone who lived near a village or a dairy farm.
also spelled
Wykkes
Wykes
Wickes
Wicke
Related arms
Wickevariant spelling
Wykesvariant spelling
Barhamrecorded with Wicks, same area
Tewydallrecorded with Wicks, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
