Edwicker Family History

Apparently from the Middle English personal name Edwaker (Old English Ēadwacer a compound of elements denoting ‘prosperity’ and ‘watchful’) although the time gap between the 14th and the 18th-century evidence is too great to be sure that there is a link between them. Apparently also a variant of Earwaker as illustrated in the following examples: William Edikar 1744 John Earwicker 1782 in IGI (Chalton Hants); Henry Earwaker 1763 Mary Earwicker 1805 William Edwicker 1834 in IGI (Tillington Sussex).

Mary Earwaker 1769 Robert Edwaker 1770 in IGI (Up Marden Sussex). Either the two surnames co-existed in E Hants and W Sussex leading to their confusion or perhaps Erriker the common modern pronunciation of Earwaker was heard as Edicker and re-formed in more formal speech as Edwaker and Edwicker.