Surname Wilcockson - Meaning and Origin

Wilcockson: What does the surname Wilcockson mean?

The last name Wilcockson is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Wilcock, meaning "son of Wilcock". Wilcock is an English diminutive form of the name William which means "determined protector".

In medieval times, the name William was a popular form of address due to its association with William the Conqueror. This name eventually became popular among common people and was passed down through the generations. The surname Wilcockson thus means "son of Wilcock" or "son of William".

The name Wilcockson is mostly found in England but was also adopted by some people living in Scotland, Ireland and North America.

In the 18th century, many people bearing the name Wilcockson were colonial settlers in America, with several first appearing on the record as immigrants between 1730 and 1820. Settlers bearing the name Wilcockson were among the earliest settlers in the colonies of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Today, the Wilcockson name is not particularly common, but is still found in many countries around the world. Despite its relative rarity, the name Wilcockson carries a long and proud history of families and individuals who shaped the societies they lived in.

Wilcockson: Where does the name Wilcockson come from?

The last name Wilcockson is a surname of British origin. It becomes more common the further north-west in the UK you travel, with a concentration of populations primarily based in Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset. This strongly suggests that the surname is of a localised nature and could have originated in that north-west corner of England.

Records suggest that the name and variations of it, such as Willcoxson and Wilcoxen, have been in a general circulation around the region since at least the late 1500s, appearing as a common name across Devon in the 1620s and onwards. Records of the name also continue to crop up in Devon through the census of 1881, which reveals a sizeable distribution across the county.

Today, the Wilcockson name has spread outwards from its roots in Devon and Cornwall and while it is still most common in the South-West of England, including Somerset, it is also found commonly in Antrim, Cambridgeshire and Lancashire. It may also be found in other parts of the UK such as Glasgow, Bedfordshire and even as far as northern France. The name continues to maintain a relatively low prevalence, indicating its localised beginnings.

Variations of the surname Wilcockson

The surname Wilcockson is an Anglo-Saxon patronymic name meaning "son of Wilcock", which is derived from a medieval given name that likely originated from the Olde English personal name Wilcocc. The surname Wilcockson also has a variety of alternative spellings and variants, which include Wilcoxson, Wilcocks, Wilcox, Wilcoxen, Wilcockson, Wilkeson, Wilkson, Wilkes, Willcocks, and Wilckes.

In addition to these various spelling and stylistic variants, this surname also has a number of related surnames that serve as surnames of trade and location. For example, Wilcockson also serves as the base for surnames such as Wilkin, Wilkins, Wilkerson, Wilkeson, and Wilkinson.

The variants Wilcocks, Wilcoxen, and Wilkes appear to have regionalized name origins due to the Anglo-Saxon influence in the British Isles. Wilcocks appears to be an English variation, found primarily in Somerset, Devon, and Dorset, while Wilcoxen appears to have originated along the southern coast of the River Mersey. Wilkes is thought to have originated in the northern part of England, with variants found in all northern counties, especially County Durham, Northumberland, and Yorkshire.

Finally, Wilkin, Wilkins, Wilkerson, and Wilkinson are thought to be Anglo-Scottish variants of the Wilcockson surname. Wilkin and Wilkinson are usually found in northeast England, while Wilkins, Wilkerson, and Wilkinson are most commonly found in Scotland and northern England.

Famous people with the name Wilcockson

• Bruce Wilcockson: A professional actor who has starred in various films like “Shelter” “Mister Ed” and “Ghost Whisperer”.
• Emma Wilcockson: A leading Australian businessman who served two terms as a Member of Parliament in South Australia and also held a number of ministerial offices.
• Sarah Wilcockson: A contemporary French artist whose popularity stems from her abstract abstracted minimalist artworks.
• Gustavo Wilcockson: An internationally renowned violinist, Gustavo has performed as a soloist with the symphony orchestras of the world.
• Patrick Wilcockson: A successful musician, Patrick’s debut album was released to critical acclaim, and he has since toured the world.
• Tom Wilcockson: A chef whose dishes have won him multiple awards and has been credited with changing the landscape of modern French cuisine.
• Matthew Wilcockson: An award-winning screenwriter, Matthew has penned several screenplays for independent and studio films.
• Jazz Wilcockson: A professional dancer, Jazz is renowned for her creative choreographies and award-winning performances.
• Simon Wilcockson: An author who is best known for his novels which have gained him world-wide recognition.
• Marianne Wilcockson: Descended from a family of English medics, Marianne is a renowned author whose works detailed her life in the 1960s and 1970s.

Other surnames

Wilcocks