Show ContentsHickmen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Hickmen came from the baptismal name for the son of Hickman. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

Early Origins of the Hickmen family

The surname Hickmen was first found in Lincolnshire, where the Hickman family of Gainsborough trace back to Robert Fitz-Hickman, lord of the manors of Bloxham and Wickham. 1

Hykeman was listed with no forename and Walter Hikeman was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 in Oxfordshire. Richard Hykemon and Juliana Hykemones were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. 2

Early History of the Hickmen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hickmen research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1604, 1627, 1629, 1648, 1650, 1659, 1660, 1663, 1676, 1681, 1682, 1687, 1690, 1692, 1701, 1703, 1713, 1720, 1733 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Hickmen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hickmen Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hickmen family name include Hickman, Hykeman, Hyckman and others.

Early Notables of the Hickmen family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Willoughby Hickman, 1st Baronet (1604-1650); Sir William Hickman, 2nd Baronet (1629-1682), an English politician, Member of Parliament for East Retford (1660); Sir Willoughby Hickman, 3rd Baronet (1659-1720); Sir Nevile Hickman, 4th Baronet (1701-1733); and Sir Nevile George Hickman, 5th Baronet (died 1781.) Henry Hickman (died 1692), was an English ejected minister and controversialist from Worcestershire; Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth (c.1627-1687), was Governor of Jamaica; and Charles...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hickmen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hickmen family to Ireland

Some of the Hickmen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hickmen family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Hickmen surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Henry Hickman settled in Virginia in 1635; Richard Hickman settled in Jamaica in 1661; William Hickman settled in Virginia in 1655; Thomas Hickman settled in Virginia in 1652.



The Hickmen 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: Toujours fidele
Motto Translation: Always faithful.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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