WILCOX
The surname Wilcox is of English origin, situated within the broader traditions of the British Isles. It derives from a personal name of Anglo‑Saxon provenance, formed by the combination of the Old English element Wil(l)a and the word cocc, which translates as “cock” or “rooster”. The original appellation was likely a nickname bestowed upon an individual who displayed traits associated with the rooster, such as pride or courageousness.
In the early medieval period, the form of the name evolved further. According to recorded histories, Wilcox developed from the elements “Will”, a short form of William, and the hypocoristic suffix cock, meaning son of, which over time was simplified to “cox”. William itself is the Norman version of the Germanic personal name Wilhem, composed of the elements wil (will or desire) and helm (protection). William was carried into England at the time of the Conquest, and within a very short period it became the most popular given name in England, presumably in honour of the conqueror.
Following the Norman Conquest, the suffix cock was appended to personal names to denote a young lad, and the resulting surname was recorded as wilcock, wilcocke, wilcocks, willcox, and willcocks. The earliest documented instance of the name is that of William Wylcock, dated 1254 in the Assize Court Rolls of the county of Somerset, during the reign of King Henry 111, 1216-1272. Other early mentions include John Wilcokes, cited in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire (1316), and Thomas Wilcox (1549-1608), a Puritan divine and minister in the city of London.
The arms borne by holders of the name are blazoned as an ermine shield, chequy gold and red. While the meaning of the surname reflects that of a proud or valiant individual, its usage as a hereditary family name spread across England and, subsequently, other English‑speaking countries, where it remains a relatively common surname.
Typical given names associated with the Wilcox surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Sheila
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Wilcox in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 12,868 people named Wilcox in the UK. That makes it the 699th most common surname in Britain. Around 198 in a million people in Britain are named Wilcox.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Wilcox
- Paula Wilcox - Actress
- Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox - Stage and film actress and singer (1904 to 1986)
- Jason Wilcox - Football player
- Rebecca Wilcox - Television presenter
- Herbert Wilcox - Film producer and director from Britain (1890 to 1977)
- Sophie Wilcox - Actress
- Desmond Wilcox - Documentary film maker (1931 to 2000)
- Judith Wilcox, Baroness Wilcox - Baroness
- Leslie Arthur Wilcox - Artist (1904 to 1982)
- Russ Wilcox - Football player and manager
- John Wilcox - Cinematographer (1913 to 1979)
- Alfred Wilcox - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1884 to 1954)
- Freddie Wilcox - Football player (1881 to 1958)
- Michael Wilcox - Playwright
- John Wilcox - Cricketer
- Denys Wilcox - Cricketer (1910 to 1953)
- Joseph Wilcox - Football player (1886 to 1940)
- Adam Wilcox - Racing driver
- Jonah Wilcox - Football player (1894 to 1956)
- Sidney Wilcox - Welsh cricketer (1893 to 1973)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.