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Sykes History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Sykes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Sykes comes from the family having resided in the county of Cumberland. Sykes is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the area or landscape were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Sykes were named due to their close proximity to a marshy stream or damp gully. The surname was originally derived from Sikes-Dyke near Carlisle in Cumberland.

Early Origins of the Sykes family

The surname Sykes was first found in Cumberland at Sikes-Dyke. Another branch of the family was found in the parish of Sledmere in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

"Sledmere House, a spacious mansion of stone, the seat of Sir Tatton Sykes, Bart., is seated near the foot of an acclivity, in a beautiful and finely-wooded park, south of the village; it was built by Sir Christopher, the second Baronet, from his own designs, and was improved and enriched by his son, the late Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, brother of the present Baronet. Sledmere Castle, on the east side of the park, is a modern edifice. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Sir Tatton. The church, which stands within the park, is a neat fabric, consisting of a nave, chancel, and square tower, and containing some handsome monuments to the Sykes family." 1

Again in the East Riding of Yorkshire, we found another record of the family at Wintringham. "The farm of Linton, the property of Sir Tatton Sykes, was the site of a monastic cell subordinate to the abbey of Scarborough." 1

Early History of the Sykes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sykes research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1684, 1713, 1714 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Sykes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sykes Spelling Variations

Sykes has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Sikes, Sykes, Sykkes, Sikkes, Syks, Siks, Sike and many more.

Early Notables of the Sykes family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Arthur Ashley Sykes (1684-1756), an English latitudinarian divine, born in London, son of Arthur Sykes of Ardeley, near Stevenage, Hertfordshire...

Sykes World Ranking

In the United States, the name Sykes is the 839^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Sykes is ranked the 782^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,975 people with that name. 3 And in the United Kingdom, the name Sykes is the 411^st popular surname with an estimated 15,887 people with that name. 4

Sykes migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Sykess to arrive on North American shores:

Sykes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Sykes, who settled in Virginia in 1642
Jon Sykes, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 5
John Sykes, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 5
Bernard Sykes, who landed in Virginia in 1682 5
Tho Sykes, who arrived in Virginia in 1699 5

Sykes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Sykes, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 5
Abram Sykes, who arrived in Alabama in 1858 5
William Sykes, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 5
Miss Rachel Sykes, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Sykes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sykes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Victory Sykes, who landed in Canada in 1831

Sykes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sykes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Sykes, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6
Mr. John Sykes, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. William Sykes, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Joshua Sykes, (b. 1819), aged 21, English soldier who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Sykes, English convict who was convicted in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 28th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sykes migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sykes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Sykes, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1837 11
George Sykes, aged 24, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Jane Sykes, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
William Sykes, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Bessy Sykes, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sykes migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Sykes Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Thomas Sykes, who settled in Barbados in 1672

Contemporary Notables of the name Sykes (post 1700) +

Alvin Sykes (1956-2021), American civil rights activist who investigated unsolved murder cases of African Americans that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement era
Paul Sykes (1937-1994), American folksinger
Roosevelt Sykes (1906-1983), American blues musician
William J. Sykes, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Colonel William Henry Sykes FRS (1790-1872), English-born, Indian Army officer, politician and ornithologist, son of Samuel Sykes of Friezing Hall, Yorkshire, the descendant of the Drighlington branch of an old Yorkshire family
Sir Tatton Sykes (1772-1863), English "patron of the turf," younger brother of Sir Mark Masterman Sykes
William Henry Sykes (1790-1872), English naturalist and soldier, son of Samuel Sykes of Friezing Hall, Yorkshire, the descendant of the Drighlington branch of an old Yorkshire family
Sir Mark Masterman Sykes (1771-1823), English book-collector, born on 20 Aug. 1771, eldest son of Sir Christopher Sykes (1749–1801), 2nd Baronet, of Sledmere, Yorkshire
Godfrey Sykes (1825-1866), English decorative artist, born at Malton, Yorkshire
Eric Sykes CBE (1923-2012), English radio, television and film writer, actor and director, best known for his work on The Goon Show, recipient of the 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Sykes Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sapiens qui assiduus
Motto Translation: He is wise who is industrious.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia. Retrieved 25th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emerald-isle
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies