Killwick

This interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to be a locational name either from a now "lost" place in the south east of England called "Kellick" or "Killick", or from Kildwick south of Skipton in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Recorded variously as "Childeuuic" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Kildewicke" in the 1267 Episcopal Registers of Yorkshire, the latter place derives its name from the Olde English pre 7th Century "cilda", literally meaning "children", but also used as a title of a youth of noble birth, plus the Olde English "tun", enclosure, settlement. The south eastern place, believed to have been in Surrey, near Reigate, would share the same meaning and derivation. The first known namebearer (below) directed in his will that candles be lit for him in the churches of Nutfield and Bletchingley, Surrey, indicating that he may originally have come from that county. One John Killick was parish constable of Bletchingley circa 1450. On August 16th 1539, Margaret Kellicke and Richard Banyster were married at Reigate, Surrey, and on October 23rd 1558, William Killick married Elizabeth Hyllare in Merstham. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a silver shield with a chevron between three black pickaxes. A silver swan, wings endorsed, is on the Crest. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Kyllyk, a vintner of London, which was dated 1439, in "London Wills Records", during the reign of King Henry V1, known as "The Founder of Eton", 1422 - 1461. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.