This genuine Olde English locational name has no less than seventeen modern spellings, a clear illustration of its part in social history. The name derives from the pre 7th Century, "wic" and translates as "a farm" or place of farming, popular examples with descriptive fore-names are Chiswick (the cheese farm), Shapwick (the sheep farm) and the aptly (now) named Gatwick - the Goat Farm. The modern spellings include Wich, Wych, Weech, Wick, Wix, Wike, Wyke, Weeke, Whick etc. The plural being a patronymic "Son of Wic". The name development includes Jordan de la Wyk (1248, Essex), Roger atte Wykes (1327, Somerset) etc. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alverdus de Wica. which was dated 1089, The Domesday Book, Somerset. during the reign of King William I, The Conqueror 1066 - 1087. 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.