sykes

Sykes is an English surname and a toponymic place name that has spread to other English-speaking countries. The etymology is typically linked to the dialect term sike, meaning a small stream, or to a place named Sykes in northern England. As a result, the name has appeared in several spellings, including Sikes and Syke. It originated as a descriptive or locational nickname for someone living by a sike or from a settlement named Sykes.

The surname is common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the north, and has been carried to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other regions through migration. Today it is borne by individuals across a broad range of professions and social strata, reflecting its long-standing presence in English-speaking societies.

Notable people and uses include historical, cultural, and organizational references. Mark Sykes (1879–1919) was a British diplomat and co-author of the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, which shaped post-World War I Middle Eastern boundaries. John Sykes (born 1959) is a British guitarist and rock musician formerly associated with bands such as Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake. In business, Sykes Enterprises is a United States–based provider of customer experience management and business process outsourcing services.

Geographically, there are places and localities that bear the name Sykes in the United Kingdom and North America, and the surname is used in the names of various institutions and brands. Variants of the name, such as Sikes or Syke, are closely related and often encountered in genealogical records. See also: Sikes, Syke.