Show ContentsLick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lick family

The surname Lick was first found in Peeblesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd nam Pùballan), former county in South-central Scotland, in the present day Scottish Borders Council Area. They were from the locality known as Portmoore Loch in the parish of Eddleston in Peeblesshire. Literally, the name means "a place where rivers meet with a partial obstruction from a wooden dam. " 1

Later they acquired the lands of Gillemorestun in 1189. John Loch of Roxburghshire represented his Clan when he rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland. Malise Lock was taken prisoner at Dunbar Castle in the same year. 2

Further to the south, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Geoffrey Loc, or Lock in Suffolk; and William Lock in Oxfordshire. 3 Kirby's Quest lists John Loke in Somerset, 1 Edward III. (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Lick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lick research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1464, 1474, 1504, 1510, 1621, 1632, 1677, 1704 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Lick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lick Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Loch, Lock, Locke, Lochlair, Locklair and others.

Early Notables of the Lick family

Notable amongst the family at this time was George Lock, Bishop of Glasgow; Matthew Locke (ca. 1621-1677), an English Baroque composer and music theorist; and John Locke (1632-1704), known as the...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lick migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Lick, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 5
  • Michael Lick, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 5

Australia Lick migration to Australia +

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

Lick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Charles Lick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stebonheath" in 1850 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Lick (post 1700) +

  • James Lick (1796-1876), American financier


The Lick 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: Assiduitate, non desdia
Motto Translation: By assiduity, not by sloth.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The STEBONHEATH 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stebonheath.htm


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