ickes

Ickes is a surname that has appeared in American public life and historical records. The most prominent bearer is Harold Le Clair Ickes (1874–1952), an American politician and administrator who served as United States Secretary of the Interior from 1933 to 1946 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A central figure of the New Deal, Ickes helped shape federal relief and public works policy and oversaw the creation of the Public Works Administration and other New Deal programs within the Interior Department. He was known for his administrative reforms, conservation efforts, and advocacy of federal investment in infrastructure during the Great Depression and World War II.

Beyond Harold L. Ickes, the surname has appeared among other individuals in public life, academia, and local affairs, though none have achieved the same level of national prominence. As a family name, Ickes is found in English-speaking countries and is commonly encountered in biographical and historical sources. In reference works, the name is typically associated with mid-20th-century American politics and the Roosevelt era, though it may also arise in genealogical or regional contexts.