Recorded as Hick, Hicke, patronymics Hickes, Hicks and Hickson, and according to the International Genealogical Index, Ick, Icke, Icom, Icome, diminutives Icken and Ickin, and patronymics Ickes and Icks, this is an English medieval surname. Derived from the given name Richard, popularized as Ricard by the Norman-French invaders after the Conquest of 1066. The ulimate origin is the pre 7th century Old German "ric-hard" translating as power-strong. The personal name was a firm favourite amongst the native population of England during and after the reign of King Richard 1st, known as "Lionheart", (1189 - 1199). It was felt by many, erroneously as it happens, that the king represented Anglo-Saxon values against the Norman ones of his brother the later King John (1199 - 1216). Be that as it may, the relative success of Richard lead to a major development of his name into a bewildering number of variants, which in time became surnames. In additon to those mentioned above we have Dick, Dicks, Dickson, and Dixon, as well as Rick, Ricks, and Rickson. The substitution of "H" as the prime initial resulted from the early inability of the native English to cope with the Norman pronunciation of "R" Early surname recordings include Richard Hick in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in the year 1302, William Hickys as spelt, in the pipe rolls of Warwickshire in 1309, and amongst the many recordings of the name in church registers is that of Abel Icome. His daughter Elizabeth was christened at St Botolphs Bisopgate on March 22nd 1749.

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