Contents [hide]

Wix History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Wix History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Today's generation of the Wix family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Wix family lived in Sussex. The name, however, derives from the Old English word wic, which describes someone who lives at an outlying settlement.

Early Origins of the Wix family

The surname Wix was first found in Surrey at Wyke, a tything, in the parish of Worplesdon, union of Guildford, First division of the hundred of Woking. "This place is mentioned in Domesday Book under the name of Wucha, and at an early period was held by a family called De Wyke." 1

Another branch of the family was found at Yatton in Somerset. "The greater portion of [the church of Yatton] appears to have been rebuilt in the 15th century, by the Wyck family, to one of whom is a monument bearing his effigy, in the north transept." 1

Thomas de Wykes (fl. 1258-1293), the English chronicler, took the habit of a canon regular at Osney Abbey, near Oxford, on 14 April 1282. "He mentions in his chronicle various namesakes and probable kinsfolk, including Robert de Wykes (d. 1246), Edith de Wyke (d. 1269), and John de Wykes, who in 1283 took a 'votum profectionis'. The name is a fairly common one, both as a personal and a place name, so that it is highly unsafe to identify him with other bearers of the same name, such as Thomas de Wyke, priest, who before 1249 wished to become a Franciscan friar." 2

Early History of the Wix family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wix research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1222, 1293, 1430, 1554, 1593, 1621, 1627, 1628, 1632, 1641, 1643, 1683, 1684, 1699, 1703 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Wix History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wix Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wix include Weekes, Weeks, Wikes, Wykes, Wyke, Wix, Wicks, Weykes and many more.

Early Notables of the Wix family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Wykes (1222-c.1293), English chronicler, a canon regular of Oseney Abbey, near Oxford; Thomas Wykes (died c.1430), Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire; Thomas Wykes (fl. 1554), of Moreton Jeffries, Herefordshire, an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Leominster in November 1554; Richard Wyche (or Wiche) (1554-1621), a...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wix Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wix Ranking

In the United States, the name Wix is the 14,705^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Wix migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Wixs to arrive on North American shores:

Wix Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sarah Wix, aged 42, who immigrated to America, in 1894
Otto Wix, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1896
Auguste Wix, aged 47, who landed in America, in 1896

Wix Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Virginia Wix, aged 18, who landed in America from Worcester Park, in 1903
Charles Wix, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Nelson, New Zealand, in 1910
Michael Wix, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1910
George B. Wix, aged 55, who settled in America, in 1920
Alf Wix, aged 20, who settled in America, in 1923

Wix migration to Australia +

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

Wix Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Francis Wix, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Wix (post 1700) +

Mayo Wix, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1980
Clark Wix, American politician, Member of Missouri State Senate 16th District, 1919-20
Charles H. Wix, American Republican politician, Chair of Chautauqua County Republican Party, 1910
Ben F. Wix, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Bates County, 1924, 1934
Green Wix (b. 1923), United States federal judge
Don Wix (b. 1946), American member of the General Assembly
Samuel Wix (1771-1861), English divine, born in London on 9 Feb. 1771, the second son of Edward Wix of St. Peter's, Cornhill 5
Henry Otto Wix (1866-1922), German-born landscape and portrait painter
Katy Wix (1980-2010), Welsh actress
Green Wix Unthank (1923-2013), United States federal judge, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (1988-2012)

The Wix 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: Cari Deo nihilo carent
Motto Translation: Those dear to God want nothing.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 13 Feb. 2019