Show ContentsFickes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Fickes

What does the name Fickes mean?

The name Fickes is "a Norman-French form of the Old French word "ficheis" meaning "faithful." 1.

Early Origins of the Fickes family

The surname Fickes was first found in London, England where Thomas le Fykes, Fykeis was recorded in 1281. Later in Kent, the Assize Rolls listed William Fykays in 1317. 1

A scan through early Sussex records revealed John le Figge listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and later in London, Simon Figge was recorded in 1381. 1

In Ireland, the name "is found in English records as early as the thirteenth century. but does not appear to have been established in mediaeval Ireland. In this country it is of comparatively recent introduction being chiefly associated with Dublin, where it has been prominent in the publishing and bookselling business since 1809. Darrell Figges (1882-1925), the author who was active in the revolutionary movement from 1914, was born in Dublin." 2

Early History of the Fickes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fickes research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1102, 1139, 1234, 1273, 1391, 1429, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1533, 1600, 1645, 1660, 1695, 1719, 1730, 1734 and 1992 are included under the topic Early Fickes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fickes 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 Fickes family name include Figg, Figgiss, Figgess, Figgins, Figgin, Figges, Figgess, Figgs, Fig, Fyge, Fygg, Fygge, Ficke, Feek and many more.

Early Notables of the Fickes family

James Figg (1695-1734), English bare-knuckle boxer, generally agreed first English bare-knuckle boxing champion, reigning from 1719 to 1730 or 1734, inducted into the International Boxing Hall...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fickes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fickes Ranking

In the United States, the name Fickes is the 18,233rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Fickes family to Ireland

Some of the Fickes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fickes family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, 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 Fickes surname or a spelling variation of the name include: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Fickes (post 1700) +

  • Clyde P. Fickes (1884-1987), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1960 4
  • Colin Fickes, American actor, best known as high school teenager Jimmy Edwards on the hit series One Tree Hill


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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