Bewicks

Bewicks is a name that can refer to people who bear the surname Bewick, as well as to animal species named in honor of the English engraver Thomas Bewick. In historical and contemporary contexts, Bewick is most often encountered as a surname.

Thomas Bewick (1753–1828) was an English wood-engraver and natural history illustrator whose work helped popularize the medium and influenced later generations of artists. He is best known for A History of British Birds (1797–1804), a richly illustrated natural history book that combined scientific observation with detailed engravings. The surname Bewick remains in use in English-speaking countries, attached to various individuals across disciplines.

Several animal species carry the possessive form Bewick’s in their common names to acknowledge the engraver’s influence. Bewick’s swan, Cygnus bewickii, is a migratory waterfowl native to northern Europe and northern Asia. Bewick’s wren, Thryomanes bewickii, is a small passerine bird found in western North America. In ornithology and natural history contexts, these names help distinguish the Bewick-inspired nomenclature from other related species.

In summary, Bewicks most often appears in two broad usages: as a surname borne by individuals, and in the common names of certain birds and swans named to honor Thomas Bewick. The form Bewick’s is the conventional possessive used in these species names, while Bewicks as a plural or standalone form commonly appears in genealogical or biographical references.