Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Uuike, (to) Wike 978×984 Add(S938) 14

• Wik(e) 1212 Fees 1221 Cur 1237 Cl 1566 Comm

• Wik(e) juxta Porland 1249 Acct

• Wika, Wica Hy3 Cerne 14 Cur 1223

• Wick 1220 1243 Pap

• Wyk(e) 1100–7 WinchCath l13 Cl 1237 Ass 1244 FA 1431

• Wyka 1236 Cl

• (la) Wyk' iuxta Weymue 1288 Ass

• Kingeswik 1242 Cl

• Kyngeswyk(e) 1309 FF 1365 ADI

• Wykes 1244 Ass

• Wikes 1263 Pat

• Wyke Regis 1407 Cl 1442,1455 Pat

• Wicke Regis 1570 AddCh 1652 Weld1

• Weke 1525 ADII 1539 LP 1575 Saxton

• Weeke Regis Eliz ChancP 1664 HTax 1675 Salkeld

• King's Weeke 1689 Hutch3

Etymology

v. wīc . The meaning may be '(dependent) farm' (perhaps originally with reference to dependence on Portland), or 'harbour, fishery' (cf. the four fishermen at Brige in 1086 DB, one of only two references to fishing in Dorset DB, v. Bridge Fm infra , VCHDo 3 100, 111–2, and cf. VCHDo 2353 for the fishery at Wyke in the 14th cent.). It was anciently a royal demesne (Hutch3 2850, VCHDo 327), v. cyning , rex (gen. sg. regis ), cf. Portland, Weymouth supra . For the We (e )ke spellings, v. EPN 2 261. The bounds of Wyke (including also parts of Weymouth and Melcombe R., cf. Grundy 766) are given in 978 × 984 (14) Add (S 938). For the liberty of Wyke R. & Elwell, v. under Culliford Tree hundred supra .