The name Weeks is an uncommon

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, usually either a patronymic of the Middle English ''Wikke'' ("battle, war") or a

topographic Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps. Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary scie ...

occupational name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name, ...

deriving from ''Wick'' ("small, outlying village"). It may also be an

Anglification Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influenc ...

of the Scandinavian

habitational name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name, ...

''Vik'' ("small bay, inlet").

Derivation

''Weeks'' is an English surname of Germanic origin with several known derivations: *A patronymic from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

personal name ''Wikke'', which is in turn a short form of any of various Germanic personal names formed with the element ''wig'', meaning ''battle'', ''war''. *A variant of ''Wick'', which is an English topographic name for someone who lived in an outlying settlement dependent on a larger village; from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

''wic'' an early loan word from the Latin ''vicus'', or a habitational name from a place named with this word. Examples of such places include Week Green in

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, and Wick in Somerset. Giggleswick Village in snow

As the term was especially used to denote an outlying dairy farm or salt works, it may also have been an occupational name for someone who worked at such a facility. The addition of a final "s" to topographical and

locational surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

s was a usual

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

practice, denoting one who was resident at a place, rather than from it. *An

of the Scandinavian ''Vik'', itself either a habitational name from any of the numerous Norwegian or

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

farmsteads named with

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

''vík'', meaning ''small bay'', ''inlet'', or (in Swedish) a topographic or ornamental name. An example of this is the Scottish Highland town of Wick, ( sco, Week or )

Early instances

Early bearers of the surname include: *Alueredus de Uuica of

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

in 1084. *Goscelin del Wich of

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see His ...

in 1184. *Jordan de la Wike of

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

in 1194. Later recordings include: *Symon Weeks, of

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

shire, a

worsted Worsted ( or ) is a high-quality type of wool yarn, the fabric made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from Worstead, a village in the English county of Norfolk. That village, together with North Walsham and Aylsham, for ...

weaver born in 1618, who emigrated to Barbados in February 1634 aged only 16. He is currently known to be the first person with the surname ''Weeks'' or etymologies of it to travel to the new world thus becoming a common ancestor to many with the name or derivatives of it in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. *Benjamin Weich of

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, who married Aurrelia Clarke at

St James Clerkenwell Clerkenwell () is an area of central London, England. Clerkenwell was an ancient parish from the mediaeval period onwards, and now forms the south-western part of the London Borough of Islington. The well after which it was named was redisco ...

, on 21 September 1653. *Henry Witch of

who married Ann Rugrove at St Olaves,

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, on 26 June 1774.

Cognates and variations

Names etymologically related to ''Weeks'' include but may not be limited to: '' Weekes'', '' Wicks'', ''Weech'', ''Week'', ''Weeke'', ''Wich'', ''Wych'', ''Weetch'', ''Wick'', ''Wickes'', ''Wix'', ''Wike'', ''Witch'', ''Wykes'', ''Whick'', and ''Vik''.

Frequency and distribution

In the UK, at the time of the 1881 Census, the relative frequency of ''Weeks'' was highest in

(7.3 times the British average), followed by

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

Brecknockshire , image_flag= , HQ= Brecon , Government= Brecknockshire County Council (1889-1974) , Origin= Brycheiniog , Status= , Start= 1535 , End= ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, with ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

and

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

.Weeks Surname at Forebears
/ref> Today the name is most common (indicated in frequency per million) in Australia (188), the United States (181), the United Kingdom (156), Canada (143), and New Zealand (71). Globally, the city with the largest numbers of people named ''Weeks'' is

Bristol, United Kingdom Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

, located in the south western county of

. In the US, there were 51,976 people in 1990 with the last name ''Weeks'', making it the 675th most common last name. The table below compares this with the corresponding enumerations of related names at that time in the US.

Notable people with the surname

* Alan Weeks (1923–1996), British television sports reporter and commentator *

Bert Weeks Albert Howard Weeks (July 1, 1917 – December 10, 1990) was the 28th mayor of the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from 1975 to 1982 and considered by many to be its best in recent memory. Previously, he had been a perennial candidate in the Wind ...

(1918–1990), mayor of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from 1975 to 1982 *

Bob Weeks Bob Weeks is a reporter and analyst for TSN, covering golf and curling. He was previously the editorial director of SCORE''Golf'' magazine. In addition, he served as host for SCORE''Golf'' TV. He was also the curling columnist for ''The Globe and ...

(born 1960), editor of ''Scoregolf'' magazine *

Brent Weeks Brent Weeks (born March 7, 1977) is an American fantasy writer. His debut novel, ''The Way of Shadows'', was a ''New York Times'' best seller in April 2009. Each of the five books in his Lightbringer Series made the NYT list as well, starting w ...

, writer of fantasy books including best-selling ''The Night Angel'' trilogy. * David Weeks, former Conservative Leader of Westminster City Council *

Don Weeks Donald E. Weeks (November 23, 1938 — March 11, 2015) was an American radio personality. He was the longtime host of the ''WGY Morning News'' on news-talk radio station 810 WGY in Schenectady, New York. Prior to working for WGY, Weeks was a weat ...

(1938–2015), longtime host of the WGY Morning News in Schenectady, New York * Don Weeke (born 1947), American fiber and gourd artist *

Edgar Weeks Edgar Weeks (August 3, 1839 – December 17, 1904) was a military officer, judge and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Biography Weeks was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, where he attended the public schools and learned the printi ...

(1839–1904), military officer, judge and politician from Michigan *

Edwin Lord Weeks Edwin Lord Weeks (18491903) was an American artist, noted for his Orientalist works. Life Weeks was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1849. His parents were affluent spice and tea merchants from Newton, a suburb of Boston, and as such they wer ...

(1849–1903), American artist * Estella Weeks (1886–1969), American researcher *

Ezra Weeks Ezra Weeks, was a successful builder who served as a witness in a sensationalized murder trial. Ezra Weeks had allied himself with the mercantile elite and had made powerful connections. His brother, Levi Weeks, was a carpenter by trade who work ...

, builder who served as a witness in a sensationalized murder trial *

Frank B. Weeks Frank Bentley Weeks (January 20, 1854 – October 2, 1935) was an American politician and the 64th Governor of Connecticut. Biography Weeks was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 20, 1854, son of Elbridge S Weeks and Mary J (Pillsbury) Wee ...

(1854–1935), Governor of Connecticut * George Weeks (disambiguation) * Harriet Hilreth Weeks (1875-1939), American politician *

Hilary Weeks Hilary Weeks (''née'', Novakovich; born March 7, 1970) is an American Christian musician and Latter-Day Saint singer, who primarily plays a worship and gospel music version of Christian country and Christian pop. She has released ten musical wor ...

, singer/songwriter of faith-based music * Honeysuckle Weeks (born 1979), British actress, best known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the British TV series ''Foyle's War'' * James Weeks (disambiguation) *

Janet Healy Weeks Janet Healy Weeks (born 19 October 1932) is a retired American lawyer and judge. She was the first woman to be admitted to the bar in Guam and the first female judge in Micronesia. Life Weeks was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, and studied chemi ...

(born 1932), American lawyer and judge * Jeffrey Weeks, American mathematician and MacArthur Fellow * Jeffrey Weeks, British historian, sociologist, and gay activist *

Jemile Weeks Jemile Nykiwa Weeks ( ; born January 26, 1987) is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego P ...

, Major League Baseball second baseman for the Oakland Athletics, brother of Rickie Weeks * John Weeks (disambiguation) *

Joseph Weeks Joseph Weeks (February 13, 1773 – August 4, 1845) was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was the grandfather of Joseph Weeks Babcock who represented Wisconsin in the United States Congress from 1893 to 1907. He was born in W ...

(1773–1845), United States Representative from New Hampshire * Kent R. Weeks (born 1941), American Egyptologist *

Kermit Weeks Kermit Weeks (born July 14, 1953 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American aviation enthusiast, pilot, and aircraft collector. He has competed in aerobatics, designed aircraft, and promoted aviation and vintage aircraft restoration. Oil and ...

(born 1953), aviation enthusiast, owner of very large historic aviation collection and museum *

Kevin Weeks Kevin Weeks (born March 21, 1956) is an American former mobster and longtime friend and mob lieutenant to Whitey Bulger, the infamous boss of the Winter Hill Gang, a crime family based in the Winter Hill neighborhood in Somerville, Massachuset ...

(born 1956), former mobster * Laurie Weeks (rugby union), (born 1986), professional

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

footballer * Laurie Weeks (writer), writer and performer based in New York City * Lee Weeks, American comic book artist and penciller * Lloyd F. Weeks (1932–2002), Michigan politician *

Levi Weeks Levi Weeks (1776–1819) was the accused in the infamous Manhattan Well Murder trial of 1800, the first murder trial in the United States for which there is a recorded transcript.* . Refer to the first chapter, "The Trial of LEVI WEEKS for the M ...

(1776–1819), the accused in the infamous Manhattan Well Murder trial of 1800 * Lizzie Weeks (1879 – 1976) was an African American activist in Portland, Oregon. *

Miriam Weeks Miriam Weeks, known by her stage name of Belle Knox, is an American former pornographic film actress. She is known for performing in pornography while studying at Duke University. Knox started doing pornography in 2013 to help pay for her $60,00 ...

(born 1995) American pornstar *

Orlando Weeks The Maccabees were an English indie rock band, formed in 2004 in London. They released four albums: ''Colour It In'' in 2007, followed by ''Wall of Arms'' in 2009, ''Given to the Wild'' which was released on 9 January 2012 and their last albu ...

(born 1983), lead singer and guitarist of London-based band The Maccabees *

Perdita Weeks Perdita Rose Weeks (born 25 December 1985) is a British actress who plays Juliet Higgins in the CBS-turned-NBC reboot series ''Magnum P.I.'' Life and education Weeks was born in South Glamorgan, to Robin and Susan (née Wade) Weeks, was educat ...

(born 1985), British actress * Ray Weeks (1930–2015), English cricketer *

Raymond Weeks Raymond Weeks (1863–1954) was an American linguist and academic. He was Chair of Romance Languages at the University of Missouri from 1895 to 1908, and later taught at Columbia University in New York City. Early life Raymond Weeks was born on ...

(1863–1954), American linguist and academic *

Rickie Weeks Rickie Darnell Weeks Jr. (born September 13, 1982) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays. H ...

(born 1982), Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, brother of Jemile Weeks *

Rollo Weeks Rollo Percival Loring Weeks (born 20 March 1987) is a British businessman and former actor. He is best known for his titular roles in the films '' The Little Vampire'' (2000) and ''The Thief Lord'' (2006). Early life Weeks was born in Chiches ...

(born 1987), British actor *

Romilly Weeks Romilly Sarah Weeks (15 December 1973 in Paddington, London) is an English journalist who is a political correspondent and news presenter for ITV News. Media career After a career in acting, Weeks entered broadcast journalism. She has trav ...

(born 1973), English newsreader and journalist *

Russ Weeks Russell Edgar Weeks Jr. (born May 12, 1942) is a former American Republican politician who served as a State Senator from West Virginia's 9th Senatorial District. Weeks was elected in 2002, defeating Senate Judiciary Chairman William R. Wooton. ...

(born 1942), former Republican State Senator from West Virginia * Sinclair Weeks (1893–1972), United States Secretary of Commerce under Dwight Eisenhower *

Steve Weeks Stephen K. Weeks (born June 30, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Weeks played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Los A ...

(born 1958), retired ice hockey goaltender * Theophilus Weeks (1708–1772), soldier in the French and Indian War and founder of Swansboro, North Carolina *

Thompson Weeks Thompson Dimock Weeks (November 5, 1832February 12, 1901) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Walworth County, and was president pro tempore of the Senate during the ...

, Wisconsin politician *

William Henry Weeks William Henry Weeks (1864–1936) was an early 20th-century architect who designed hundreds of buildings including many schools, banks, and libraries. He was best known for the monumental neoclassical style of his public buildings, although he ...

(1864–1936), American architect who designed many public buildings in California * Willie Weeks (born 1947), American bassist * Christopher Weeks (born 1987), Chef, American Bassist, African American Descendant of Leonard Weeks

References