Stickney

The surname Stickney is of English topographical origin, derived from the village of Stickney in Lincolnshire, England. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, as they provided a convenient way to identify individuals by their place of residence or the land they owned. The village name itself is thought to be composed of the Old English elements 'sticca' (meaning 'stick' or 'tree stump') and 'eg' (meaning 'island' or 'dry ground in a marsh'). Thus, the name refers to an 'island of tree stumps'.

The surname would have been adopted by individuals who either originated from this village or owned land there. Over centuries, as people migrated, the surname spread. While primarily a surname, it has occasionally been adopted as a given name, particularly in American culture, often as a way to honor a family surname.