At the time of the conquest, 1066, surnames were not in common use among the Britons, and the practice of using surnames was not fully established for a century or two afterwards. And it was much later that many surnames attained their final forms.
The definite, connected history of the surname Wickware begins about 1500, though earlier traces have been discovered.
It seems probable that a branch of the Warre family, residing at or near the manor of Wick, or Wick-Warre, assumed that name to distinguish themselves from the main branch of the family which, after a few generations, had their principal seat, not at Wick but in Sussex county.
In the first half of the 16th century two brothers, John and Thomas Wickwarre, were living at Calne, in Wiltshire, about thirty miles southeast of Wickwar. Thomas Wickware, who was probably their father, was buried at Calne, 21 Jan. 1568. Jane Wickwarre, buried at Calne 7 Oct. 1559, may have been the wife of Thomas Sr.
In the earliest entries the name is spelled Wyckwarre, Wyckwarr, Wyckware, Wickwarr and Wickware. In a considerable number of entries in the latter half of the century the name is written "Wickwarr alias Clarke," or Clarke alias Wickwarr." This use of a double surname was quite common at that time, being somewhat analogous to the more modern hyphenated surname. It is probable that a marriage took place between a member of the Wickwarr family and a member of the Clarke family, and that both names were thereafter used, in order to preserve the right to an inheritance, or for some similar reason.
Some years ago an inquiry was sent by a member of the family in Canada to the Heraldry Office in London as to the Crest of the family, and the following is a copy of the information furnished by the Heraldry Office:
Crest of Wickwar or Wykwarre
A Griffin's head out of Coronet, in beak a fleur-de-lis.
The name is taken from Wickwar in Gloucestershire and is a most ancient family, dating as
far back as the Conqueror, whose Queen presented the hamlet of Wickwar to her Chamberlain
and named it after him for his faithful services.
Coat of Arms and Crest
Warre of Wick
The town of Wickwar and the Wickware family are entwined throughout history. Following is a list of the names associated with the town and the family both.
The following tabulation, taken from patents, inquisitions, wills and other historical records, shows the transition from Wick to Wickwar, and the variations in spelling since the name assumed the latter form.
| Year(s) AD | Name | Source |
| 46-410 | Vicus | Roman Settlement or Villa (probably) |
| 798 | Wiche | Grant of King of Mercia |
| 930 | Wichen | Tenure of Hailward |
| 1086 | Wichen | Domesday Book |
| 1175 | Wiche | Bull of Alexander the Third |
| 1207 | Wick | Charter of King John to John La Warre |
| 1261 | Wike | Inquisition of Lands of Abbot of Wyke |
| 1261 | Wyke | Inquisition of Lands of Abbot of Wyke |
| 1268 | Wykewauer | Inquisition of Lands of William de Bello |
| 1275 | Wyke | Inquisition of Manorial Franchises |
| 1281 | Warre-Wike | Franchise of Edward I |
| 1282 | Wykeware | Appointment of Walter de Wykeware Abbot of Winchcomb |
| 1284-90 | Wyk | Kirby's Quest |
| 1287 | Warrewyche | Pleas to the Crown |
| 1321 | Wyke-warre | Escheator's Inquisition |
| 1346 | Wykewarre | Royal Aids Levied in Gloucestershire |
| 1346 | Wykware | Royal Aids Levied in Gloucestershire |
| 1355 | Wickwar | Fine Levied of Manor and Advowson |
| 1402 | Wykewarre | Knights Fees Under Lay Subsidies |
| 1451 | Wyke-warr | Seizin of Richard Lord de la Warr |
| 1479 | Wykwarre | Will at Canterbury |
| 1503 | Wykewarre | Will at Canterbury |
| 1510 | Wyckwarr | Will at Canterbury |
| 1533 | Warre-Wyks | Patent of Henry VII |
| 1534 | Wike Watar | John Leland's Mss. |
| 1552 | Wickware | Parish Register at Calne, Wilts |
| 1554 | Wickwarre | Siezin of Thomas Lord de la Warr |
| 1560 | Wickwarre | List of Recusants in Gloucestershire |
| 1577 | Wickwar | Parish Register at Wotton-Under-Edge |
| 1583 | Wyckwar | Will of John, of Calne |
| 1588 | Wickware | Will of Alice, of Calne |
| 1588 | Wickwarre | Feet of Fines in Gloucestershire |
| 1592 | Wickwarr | Will of Nicholas, of Calne |
| 1595 | Wickwarr | Suit in Chancery by Margery |
| 1608 | Wickwarre | Gloucestershire Muster Roll |
| 1615 | Wickwarr | Parish Register at Wotton-Under-Edge |
| 1629 | Warre-Wyks | Inspeximus of Charles I |
| 1636 | Wickwar | Wiltshire Inquisitions |
| 1649 | Wickwarr | Parish Register, Tetbury |
| 1653 | Wickeware | Parish Register, Berkeley |
| 1658 | Wickware | Parish Register, Tetbury |
| 1659 | Wickware | Parish Register, London |
| 1664 | Wickwar | Parish Register, Tetbury |
| 1676-1697 | Wickware | Vital Records, Numerous, New London, Connecticut |
| 1692 | Wickwayr | Land Records, Numerous, New London, Connecticut |
| 1692-1736 | Wickware | Land Records, Numerous, New London, Connecticut |
| 1707 | Wickwarre | Will of William of Tortworth, England |
| 1712 | Wickwere | Will of John of New London, Connecticut |
| 1712 | Wickwire | Probate Record, Clerks error, New London, Connecticut |
| 1716-1742 | Wickwere | Land Records, New London, Connecticut |
| 1725-1735 | Wickwer | Vital Records, New London, Connecticut |
| 1734 | Wickwire | Land Records, New London, Connecticut |
| 1736 | Wickwear | Deed, New London, Connecticut |
| 1744 | Wickwere | Will of Peter of New London, Connecticut |
| 1746 | Wickwere | Will of Christopher of Lyme, Connecticut |
It will be seen from the foregoing that Wickware has been the form in most general use for the past six centuries. This is the form that appears upon the New London, Connecticut records for at least thirty-five years after John Wickware settled there, in 1675. Wickwire is a variation apparently first devised in 1712 by the clerk of the Probate Court, when the will of John Wickware was offer for probate. Some branches have accepted and adhered to this corrupted form, while others still retain the correct spelling.
The Wickware - Wickwire Family Website is sponsored by the Charles F. Wickwire Family. Correspondence is welcome so please send us an email. We are always looking for more information about the family so feel free to send pictures, stories or questions.
Send email to: cfwickwi@bechtel.com
Rick and Fran Wickwire
Eric Wickwire
Trey, Kim & Elli Wickwire
Pete Wickwire