Surname Ricks - Meaning and Origin
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I. Ricks
read moreRicks: What does the surname Ricks mean?
Ricks is a surname with English origins that is derived from the Old Norse personal name, 'Ricke'. It comes from 'ric' which means 'power' or 'ruler' and 'hard' meaning 'strong' or 'hardy', and is used to suggest 'dominant power' or 'dominant ruler'. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to denote that the person is "the son of Ricke". While it is most commonly found in England, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration. Variations of the surname include Rickes, Rix, Rixon, and Rickson. Like many other surnames, the specific meaning can vary based on regional usage and variations over time. Surnames also don't necessarily carry a significant meaning in contemporary usage; they mostly serve as a familial identifier.
Order DNA origin analysisRicks: Where does the name Ricks come from?
The last name Ricks is most common throughout the United States, where it ranks as the 4,054th most common surname overall. This surname is most prominently found in the Southeastern United States, mainly in Texas, where it is the 774th most common surname. It is also fairly common in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi as well. Outside of the United States, the last name Ricks is also found in Canada, particularly in Ontario, and New Brunswick, as well as in the United Kingdom, specifically in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Additionally, Ricks is found in Jamaica, India, and Egypt.
The origin of the last name Ricks can be traced back to England, where it is a diminutive of the name Richard. Initially, it was thought to refer to the son of Richard. Today, the most prevalent spelling for the name is Ramage, which is derived from the Old French term ram to mean "raven". Ultimately, this surname appears to have Germanic roots, as the German word "ruck" meant "power, might, or wealth".
Variations of the surname Ricks
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ricks include Rewques, Reucces, Recques, Ricques, Rique, Ricke, Riquez, Reikes, Rykes, Ryks, Rex, Rix, Royce, Rees, Reece, Rieth, Rice, Ricer, Rican, Ricard, Richard, Richardi, Richards, Rickard, Rickards and Rigg.
The surname Ricks is believed to be of English and Scottish origin. It is known to have derived from the personal name Richard or Ricard, both of which are variants of the Old German name Ricohard, meaning ‘powerful ruler’. The spelling of the surname varied widely in the Middle Ages, depending on local dialects and regional accents of the time. As a result, many other spellings of the surname evolved over the centuries, such as Rique, Rex, Rix and Ryks.
The surname later emerged as Rewques, Reucces, Recques and Ricques, most likely due to the French influence in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Later derivatives of Ricks include Reece, Rice and Richards, which could be attributed to the influence of French and Latin languages, particularly following the Reformation. Other variations also began to take root, including Rickard, Rieth, Rican, Ricer and Richardi.
Today, the surname Ricks is widely found across England, Scotland and the United States. It is a testament to its popular heritage and evolving forms, with many of its variants still in existence today.
Famous people with the name Ricks
- Toby Ricks: Actor
- Jeff Ricks: Singer
- Dave Ricks: Football Player
- Vernor Ricks: Screenwriter
- Dona Ricks: Actress
- Jake Ricks: Politician
- Nick Ricks: Songwriter and Musician
- James Ricks: Baseball Player
- David Ricks: Country Music Singer
- Michael Ricks: Actor and Director