Sykes (disambiguation)
Origins
This notable surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and may be either a topographical name from residence by a rivulet, or a locational name from Syke, a minor place in the Rochdale county borough of Lancashire. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th Century "sic", rivulet, stream, water-course. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognizable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. Locational names were originally given to those former inhabitants who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere, and were best identified by their former village name. Early examples of the surname include: Roger del Sik (Norfolk, 1212); Richard del Sikes (Yorkshire, 1309); and Richard in le Syche (Staffordshire, 1332). A notable bearer of the name was Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, third baronet (1771–1823) M.P., York, 1801–20, and a book-collector of renown. His library contained several early manuscripts and specimens of 15th-century printing. A coat of arms granted to the Sykes family depicts a black chevron between three sykes or fountains on a silver shield, the Crest being a demi triton issuant from reeds, blowing a shell, and wreathed about the temple with like reeds all proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph de Sich, which was dated 1166, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154–89. 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 (source: the internet surname database).
- It may also refer to:
People
British
- Aristocrats
- Sykes Baronets, four separate baronetcies of Great Britain or the United Kingdom
- The Sykes family of Sledmere, including Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet:
- Rev Sir Mark Sykes, 1st Bt (1711–83)
- Sir Christopher Sykes, 2nd Bt (1749–1801) married Elizabeth Tatton of Wythenshawe, Chesh.
- Sir Mark Masterman-Sykes, 3rd Bt (1771–1823) (from 1795) MP for York, High Sheriff
- Sir Tatton Sykes, 4th Bt (1772–1863), married Marry Anne Foulis of Ingilby Manor
- Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Bt (1826–1913)
- Mark Sykes (16 March 1879 – 21 July 1930) co-author of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
- Sir Mark Tatton Richard Sykes, 7th Bt (later Tatton-Sykes, 1977)(1905–78)
- Sir Tatton Christopher Mark Sykes, 8th Bt of Sledmere, Yorks Driffield, Yorks YO25 0XGJ.(born 1943)
- Others
- Sir Alan Sykes, 1st Baronet, businessman and British politician
- Bryan Sykes, British academic and geneticist
- Christopher Sykes (author), British author
- Christopher Sykes (MP), British politician
- Edmund Sykes, Catholic martyr
- Ernest Sykes (VC), recipient of the Victoria Cross
- Ernest Ruthven Sykes (1867–1954), malacologist from Great Britain
- Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes, British military officer and politician
- John Sykes, rock musician
- John Sykes (UK politician)]], British politician
- Nathan Sykes - one fifth of British boyband The Wanted
- Norman Sykes (1936–2009), English footballer
- Oliver Sykes, front-man of Bring Me the Horizon
- Paul Sykes (boxer) (1946–2007), English heavyweight boxer of the 1970s and 1980s
- Paul Sykes (businessman) (born 1943), English Eurosceptic businessman, and political donor
- Paul Sykes (rugby league) (born 1981), rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s
- Sir Percy Sykes, British soldier, geographer and travel writer
- Peter Sykes (chemist) (1923–2003), British chemist
- Sir Richard Sykes (rector), businessman and university rector
- Sir Richard Sykes (diplomat), diplomat assassinated in 1979
- Stephen Sykes, ecclesiologist
- Thomas Hardcastle Sykes, businessman
- Colonel William Henry Sykes, military officer, politician, and ornithologist
New Zealand
- Annette Sykes, New Zealand human rights lawyer and Māori activist
American
- Bob Sykes (American football), American football player
- Bob Sykes (baseball), American baseball pitcher
- Diane S. Sykes, judge on the United States Court of Appeals
- Eric Sykes, comedic writer and actor
- Eric A. Sykes, developer of the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
- Eugene Octave Sykes
- George Sykes, U.S. Army general
- Gresham Sykes (born 1922), American sociologist and criminologist
- Congressman James Sykes (delegate), lawyer and American politician
- Governor James Sykes (governor), physician and American politician
- John H Sykes Tampa Bay area businessman and founder of Sykes inc.
- Paul Sykes (singer), American folksinger of the 1960s
- Richard Sykes (Rugby player), Rugby player and Dakota landowner
- Wanda Sykes, comedian and actress
Australian
- Peter Sykes (director) (1939–2006), Australian/British film director
Canadian
- Bob Sykes (ice hockey), Canadian ice hockey player
- Frederick Henry Sykes (1863–1917), Canadian-American educator and college president
- Homer Sykes, Canadian-born British photographer
- Rod Sykes, Canadian politician
Others
- Fictional characters
- Bill Sykes, antagonist from the animated Disney film Oliver & Company
- Mr. Sykes, a character from the film Shark Tale, voiced by Martin Scorsese
- Sgt. Michael "Psycho" Sykes, the main character in the game Crysis Warhead, and a secondary character in Crysis
- Robert "Pliers" Sykes, character in the game Wing Commander IV
- Sykes, name of the long-running BBC television series, starring Eric Sykes.
- Sergeant Sykes, a character from the 2013 science fiction film Oblivion.
Companies
- The Sykes Bleaching Company
- Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated, a family of global companies delivering business process outsourcing services
Places
- Sykes, California, US
- Sykesville, Maryland, US
- 4438 Sykes, an asteroid
- Forward Operating Base Sykes, a U.S. military base in Iraq
- Sykes Camp, a campground in California
Other
- Sykes (dog), a UK dog actor