Show ContentsHichcach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hichcach

What does the name Hichcach mean?

Hichcach is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. It is a name for a the personal name Richard. It is composed of the elements Hitch, which is a pet form of the name Richard, and the suffix -cock, a medieval term of endearment. 1

In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, in the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. However, by the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions.

Early Origins of the Hichcach family

The surname Hichcach was first found in various shires and counties throughout Britain. One of the first records of the name was simply listed as Hichecoc with no personal name in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260. 2

A similar entry with no personal name appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 for Yorkshire as Hichecok. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire listed Richard Hichecokes there in 1327 and John Higecok was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in the same year. William Hygecok, Hichecok were listed in 1329 and 1360. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Willelmus Higecok. 1

Early History of the Hichcach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hichcach research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1739, 1775, 1776 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Hichcach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hichcach Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Hitchcock, Hichcock, Hiscock, Hiscox, Hitchcocke, Hedgecock, Hitchcoke, Hitchcott and many more.

Early Notables of the Hichcach family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Daniel Hitchcock (1739-1777), American attorney and graduate of Yale University. He was first appointed lieutenant colonel in command of the regiment when it marched to serve in the Siege of...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hichcach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hichcach family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Hichcach or a variant listed above were: Lillibett and William Hitchcocke, who came to in Virginia in 1623; Matthew, Thomas, and William Hitchcock, who settled in New England in 1635; Richard Hitchcox, who settled in Virginia in 1636.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  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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