Wilcox surname meaning

Wilcox is an English patronymic built from Will or Wilcock, a medieval short form of William, with a diminutive or filial suffix historically written -cock or -cox. The sense is “little Will” or “son of William,” though the suffix did not always function as a literal modern-style son marker. William comes from the Germanic elements for will or desire and protection. Wilcox, Wilcocks, Wilcock, and Willcox are related spelling forms. The catalog uses parent’s name with high confidence for the personal-name descent, while recognizing that unrelated families could adopt similar forms independently.