WIX
Wix is an English surname of Anglo‑Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word wic which originally meant a dwelling or settlement and was often applied to a dairy farm or trading hub. The term is in turn a short form of the Latin vicus, meaning an outlying settlement dependent upon a larger village. The name is therefore both topographical and occupational, denoting a person who lived near or worked at such a place.
The spelling of the surname has varied widely through history. Recorded forms include Weech, Week, Weeke, Weekes, Wich, Wych, Weetch, Wick, Wickes, Wicks, Wix, Wike, Witch, Wykes and Whick. The addition of a final s was a medieval convention used to indicate a resident of a place rather than its origin.
Early documentary evidence of the surname dates back to the Norman era. In 1084 Alueredus de Uuica appears in Somerset; in 1184 Goscelin del Wich is recorded in Worcestershire; and in 1194 Jordan de la Wike is mentioned in Gloucestershire. Later examples include Symon Weeks, a worsted weaver from Devonshire who emigrated in 1634 to St. Christopher's in Barbados, Benjamin Weich who married in St. James, Clerkenwell in 1653, and Henry Witch who married in St. Olaves, Southwark in 1774.
Geographically, the surname remains most prevalent in England, particularly in the counties of Hampshire, Dorset, and Somerset, where it has been noted since the early twelfth century. It is also found in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland. Migration has spread the name further afield; significant concentrations exist in the United States (California, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and New York City), in Victoria, Australia, and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
Notable bearers of the name include Herbert Austin Wix, who founded the Austin Motor Company, succeeding his grandfather Samuel Wix who established a horse‑carriage business in Birmingham in 1792. Although the firm was later acquired by Simey and relocated to London in 1808, the Wix family continued to operate in Birmingham, contributing to local industry and philanthropy.
In contemporary usage the surname remains common in the United Kingdom and is increasingly encountered abroad due to ongoing immigration patterns. The variety of historical spellings reflects the diverse linguistic and regional influences that have shaped the name over the centuries, and the precise lineage of any particular family can only be ascertained through detailed genealogical research.
Typical given names associated with the Wix surname
Male
- Adam
- Barry
- Christopher
- James
- John
- Jonathan
- Matthew
- Nigel
- Peter
- Philip
- Robert
- Wayne
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Gladys
- Janet
- Jean
- Joanne
- Katy
- Linda
- Sandra
- Vera
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 Wix in...
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There are approximately 259 people named Wix in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Wix.
Famous people named Wix
- Katy Wix - Actress
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.