Surname Kissick - Meaning and Origin
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Kissick: What does the surname Kissick mean?
The last name Kissick is of English or Scottish origin, and is a variant spelling of the more common name Kisko or Kissock. It is an occupational surname which was derived from the Old English word ‘kiske’ which translates to ‘cheese-maker’ or ‘curd-maker’. This name was most likely given to someone who held a position as a cheesemaker in medieval Europe.
The influence of Christianity in the British Isles brought about many changes in the English language, and as a result, Kissick is one of many surnames that have evolved from a profession or title. Many of these surnames spoke to a particular skill, craft, or trade that the person was known for.
Today, the Kissick name is spread across the United Kingdom and in Canada and the United States, where people with this surname can trace their roots back to immigrations across the Atlantic. Some have also migrated to other parts of the world, such as Australia.
Although it is impossible to identify an exact meaning from the name itself, Kissick is a reminder of the past and the history of the people who bore it. It was most likely given to somebody who was a cheese maker or curd maker in medieval Europe, and has endured through the centuries to today.
Order DNA origin analysisKissick: Where does the name Kissick come from?
The surname Kissick is a locational name; originating from either a location in Scotland or a place in England. In Scotland, the Kissick surname is thought to originate from the parish of Essick, which is located in the county of Renfrewshire. In England, Kissick is most likely derived from the village of Kexwick, which is in the county of Gloucestershire. Today, Kissick is still a common surname in both Scotland and England.
In Scotland, Kissick is most commonly found in the counties of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire, and Ayrshire. In England, the last name is regularly found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Devon, Norfolk, and Yorkshire.
People with the surname Kissick can also pop up all over the United States of America. It is particularly common in states like Virginia, Illinois, Ohio and California. In addition, Kissick is also encountered in various Canadian provinces, like Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
Overall, the surname Kissick is still in fairly wide circulation around the world. Though much of the geographical root of the surname has been forgotten, modern descendants of the Kissick family can trace their heritage to Scotland and England. Today, the surname Kissick is concentrated in Scotland, England, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kissick
The surname Kissick is of Scottish origin and is derived from the sons of Gilbert or "Gilles", which was a popular first name in the 12th century. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Kissick.
The most common spelling of the name is Kissick, which is a form of the original Gaelic spelling of the name, “Gilleske”. Other variations of the pronounciation of Kissick can be spelled as “Kesick” and “Kysick”.
Variants of the name include Kissack, Kessick, Kysick, Kysack, Kysack, Kisack and Gisk. Any of the Kissick spelling variants may be found with a final letter “s” or “k”. For example, Kissacks and Kisacks.
It is also possible to find variants and surnames of Kissick which do not include the surname's original Gaelic spelling, such as Gilles, Gilless, Gillies, Gilliese, Gillie, Gillison, Guiles, and Gills.
Another variant of the name can be found in the English spelling “Cysick”, which has become an increasingly popular spelling of the surname.
Finally, the name Kissick has been adopted by some families as a given name, and can be found as “Kissick”, “Kissie” and “Kissy”. There is also a Kissick surname associated with the native Indian tribes of Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia.
Famous people with the name Kissick
- Jim Kissick, a former President of USAA, a Fortune 500 financial services company.
- Lainey Kissick, a South African professional BMX rider.
- Jeff Kissick, a veteran Major League Baseball umpire.
- Gene Kissick, an American fighter pilot and combat leader during World War II.
- Bonnie Kissick, a professional basketball player and coach who played with the New England Gulls of the Women’s Professional Basketball League.
- Peter Kissick, an American former competitive figure skater.
- Dr. John Kissick, an American professor and historian of literature and culture at Smith College.
- Jonathan Kissick, an American author and award-winning playwright.
- Ray Kissick, an American filmmaker, photographer, and television director.
- Simone Kissick, an American actress, tap-dancer and singer who performed in musicals on Broadway.