Map of England showing where the Wykes arms are recorded
The Wykes arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1620.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Wykes 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Wykes Family in England
The surname Wykes is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people who lived near a specific type of landscape. The word derives from the Old English term "wic," which referred to a dairy farm, a specialized trading settlement, or a small village. By the time the name became hereditary in England, it often described families who resided near these distinct rural outposts. Records show that members of the Wykes family were established in Cambridge by 1620, placing them in a city that was already a major center for intellectual and academic life. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local commerce or the skilled trades that supported the growing university population. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they integrated into the social fabric of the region, contributing to the steady development of the local community.
Wykes Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
wic
Old English term for a dwelling, village, or dairy farm.
This name
WykesDerived from a topographic location referring to someone who lived near a small settlement or creek.
also spelled
Wikes
Wycks
Wickes
Wike
Related arms
Wicksvariant spelling
Wikevariant spelling
Wikesvariant spelling
Berkeleyrecorded with Wykes, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
