Show ContentsHickman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hickman

What does the name Hickman mean?

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Hickman 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 Hickman family

The surname Hickman 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 Hickman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hickman 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 Hickman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hickman Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hickman has been recorded under many different variations, including Hickman, Hykeman, Hyckman and others.

Early Notables of the Hickman 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...
  • 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 Hi...
  • Francis Hickman (fl. 1690), was an English scholar, born about 1663, was the fourth son of Sir William Hickman, bart., of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. He became a king's scholar at Westminster School i...

Hickman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hickman is the 648th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hickman is ranked the 689th most popular surname with an estimated 63 people with that name. 4 And in the United Kingdom, the name Hickman is the 766th popular surname with an estimated 8,754 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Hickman family to Ireland

Some of the Hickman 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.


Hickman migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hickman or a variant listed above:

Hickman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Hickman, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Henry Hickman, who landed in Virginia in 1637 6
  • Sarah Hickman, who landed in Virginia in 1641 6
  • Thomas Hickman, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 6
  • Natha Hickman, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hickman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Hickman, who landed in Virginia in 1702 6
  • Jonah Hickman, who landed in Virginia in 1703 6
  • Tho Hickman, who landed in Virginia in 1705 6
  • Andrews Hickman, aged 34, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 6
  • Cronomus Hickman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1744 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hickman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew, Adam, John, Joseph, Peter, Selby Hickman all, who settled in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1860

Hickman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hickman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Casper Hickman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Catherina Hickman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Hickman migration to Australia +

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

Hickman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Hickman, (b. 1779), aged 34, English gunsmith who was convicted in Staffordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1834 7
  • Mr. William Hickman, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. James Hickman, British Convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
  • Edward Hickman, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
  • Mr. James Hickman who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickman 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:

Hickman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Hickman, aged 35, a blacksmith, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
  • Eliza Hickman, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
  • Mr. John Hickman, (b. 1805), aged 35, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 12
  • Mrs. Eliza Hickman, (b. 1813), aged 27, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 12
  • Mr. John Hickman, (b. 1840), aged 9 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickman 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. 13
Hickman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Richard Hickman, who settled in Jamaica in 1661

Contemporary Notables of the name Hickman (post 1700) +

  • Darryl Gerard Hickman (1931-2024), American film and television actor, best known for his work as a child actor in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Men of Boys Town (1941), The Human Comedy (1941) and Leave Her to Heaven, and others
  • Frederick "Fred" Hickman (1956-2022), American sports broadcaster with CNN, TBS, YES Network, and ESPN who received CableACE awards in 1989 and 1993, and was a New York Sports Emmy Award Winner in 2004
  • Paschal Hickman (1778-1813), United States officer in the War of 1812, eponym of Hickman County, Kentucky
  • Dwayne Bernard Hickman (1934-2022), American actor and television executive, producer and director, best known for his role as Chuck MacDonald, Bob Collins' girl-crazy teenaged nephew, in the 1950s The Bob Cummings Show and the title character in the 1960s sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, younger brother of actor Darryl Hickman
  • Tracy Raye Hickman (b. 1955), American fantasy author. He wrote co-wrote the Dragonlance novels, he also wrote role playing game material while working for TSR
  • Laura Curtis Hickman (b. 1956), American fantasy author, best known for her works in game design and fantasy novels, she is the first female game designer to publish a role-playing module
  • Stephen Hickman (1949-2021), American artist, illustrator, sculptor, and author
  • William H. Hickman, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Senator from Indiana, 1916
  • William Alan Hickman, American politician, Representative from Pennsylvania 7th District, 1992
  • Wiley J. Hickman (b. 1984), American Democratic Party politician, Probate judge in Alabama, 1952-84; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1956, 1968, 1976, 1980; Member of Democratic National Committee from Alabama, 1976-84
  • ... (Another 58 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Dorsetshire
  • Raymond Gillard Hickman (d. 1945), British Marine aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 14
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leonard A Hickman (b. 1921), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Lewisham, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Hickman, British sailor, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Geoffrey Hickman, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 17
HMS Royal Oak
  • Kenneth Hickman, British Leading Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 18
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Lewis Hickman (d. 1912), aged 30, English Second Class passenger from Fritham, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 19
  • Mr. Leonard Mark Hickman (d. 1912), aged 24, English Second Class passenger from Fritham, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 19
  • Mr. Stanley George Hickman (d. 1912), aged 20, English Second Class passenger from Fritham, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 19
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Arthur Lee Hickman, American Signalman Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 20
Vimy Ridge
  • Charles Forsey Hickman (1893-1917), Canadian packer and shipper, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917


The Hickman 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Hickman +

  • Descendants of Robert and Hannah Hickman Way of Chester County, Pennsylvania by Dr. Herbert Way.
  • Richard S. Hickman, Lydia Veal, and Their Descendants by Paul and Alba Smith.

  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)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. 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)
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  10. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Andromeda voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1826 with 147 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1826
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  14. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  15. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  16. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  17. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  18. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  19. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  20. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook