Surname Southwick - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Southwick: What does the surname Southwick mean?
The surname Southwick is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a place-name, specifically the Old English elements "sūð" meaning "south," and "wic," meaning "dwelling," "settlement," or "village." Therefore, the name Southwick essentially means "a person from the south village." It was used to describe someone who lived or came from a location called Southwick. There are several places in England with the name Southwick, including areas in Hampshire, Sussex, and Northamptonshire. Notably, in many cases, the people who were named after the location did not necessarily live there but might have done important work there or owned significant property. As with many surnames derived from place-names, it is likely that different families with the Southwick surname have different ancestral homes, each one being the Southwick after which they are named.
Order DNA origin analysisSouthwick: Where does the name Southwick come from?
The surname Southwick is a historic surname that is mostly found in the United States and the United Kingdom today. In the United States, Southwick is more common in the northeastern states, especially in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. In the UK, the surname Southwick is most common in the southwestern coastal counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. Southwick is also found in other areas scattered around the world, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Southwick is a locational surname, meaning it was originally derived from the name of a place where someone was born or lived. The places that the surname Southwick refers to are scattered across both the UK and the United States. For example, Southwick is evident in places like Southwick, Massachusetts; Southwick, New Hampshire; Southwick, Vermont; and Southwick, England.
Interestingly, variations on the surname Southwick have appeared in several historical contexts. For example, during the American Revolution, there was a large group of soldiers called "Southwick's regiment" that was led by Colonel Nicholas Southwick.
Although the last name Southwick is not as common today as it was in the past, there are still many people who proudly bear the Southwick surname.
Variations of the surname Southwick
The surname Southwick has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants include Southwicke, Southwic, Sowthwicke, Sowthwic, Sowthwick, and Sowthwic. Other variations include Southwyk, Suthorck, Suthouck, Souteouck, and Souteock.
The most common origin of the surname Southwick comes from Old English, and the meaning is ‘southern farmstead or village’. The Middle English spelling of ‘-wic’ or ‘-wick’ is also frequently used in various versions of the surname.
The Southwicks were among the most prominent landowners in the East Anglia region of the UK and had large estates in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Some notable Southwicks include Jonas Southwick, a prominent Puritan and soldier in the English civil wars, and George Southwick, a noted nineteenth-century American philosopher.
In the United States, variations of the surname Southwick are spelled as Southwick, Southwicke, Southwicks, and Southwich. Other variations include Suthick, Suthierce, and Sutrices. The meaning of these variants is the same as the original spelling, with a focus on land in the south of a region.
In the United Kingdom, the Southwick surname is mostly found in the East Anglia region, with some families living in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and elsewhere. Variations on the British spelling differ slightly from those of the United States. Common British spellings include Sutorck and Suthorck.
Overall, the Southwick surname is centuries old and has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. This large family tree is testament to its long and varied history in the United Kingdom and United States.
Famous people with the name Southwick
- Colby Southwick: American professional ice hockey player
- Mark Southwick: English competitive sailor
- David Southwick: Australian politician
- Charles Southwick: 19th-century American mechanical engineer and inventor
- Nathan Southwick: 17th-century English politician
- Aaron Southwick: Canadian politician
- Jim Southwick: American former professional baseball player
- Mike Southwick: English former professional rugby union player
- Paul Southwick: American Army National Guard major general
- William Southwick: 19th-century American landscape painter