Killick Family History

From Kilnwick or Kilnwick Percy (ER Yorks), both spelled Killingwik in medieval records and the latter spelled Kyl(l)wike in 1539. Kildwick (WR Yorks) is another formal possibility recorded as Kyldewik and Kylwyk in medieval records.

The ER Yorks place-names derive from an Old English personal name *Cylla + Old English connective -ing- or the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + wīc meaning ‘dwelling specialized farmstead’.

The WR Yorks place-name derives from Old English cild ‘child’ (genitive plural cilda) + wīc with change of initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence.

The strong presence of the surname in post-medieval Surrey and Sussex may be explained by initial migration to London in the 15th century perhaps.