One of the Great Yorkshire Surnames
Taylor Dyson, “Names of the Huddersfield District etc 19xx”
This study is organised under the auspice of the Guild of One Name Studies and aims to generate research into the origins, development and dispersion of the surname Sykes. It focusses initially upon occurrences of the name in medieval England up to the seventeenth century and explores various theories of the origins by critically re-examining the documentary evidence available.
This is not the history of a specific genetic line of Sykes but an attempt to understand how the surname developed, what caused it to remain in particular locations or spread to pastures new. However the profiles uncovered offer potential links to modern records which may be informative for those tracing back particular branches. For this purpose the study ends in the seventeenth century by which time parish registers have begun to provide extensive records of baptisms, marriages and burials and the Hearth Taxes of 1666-72 offer the nearest thing we have to national census. By this time feudal constraints on movement had largely relaxed but the mass populations of the industrial revolution were still in the future. It therefore offers a good vantage point from which to look in the rear view mirror.
The author welcomes contributions from anyone interested in the history of this name who wishes to offer supplementary information or discussion of the topics covered, particularly in the field of DNA where the author professes no expertise. There is plenty of room for alternative viewpoints.