WB#1
Writing & Arts
William Barclay
1907–1978British author, theologian, radio and TV presenter and Church of Scotland minister (1907-1978)
14 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Wick, Highland
Leaders stand out among the 33 famous people born in Wick
William Barclay is the best known, with articles in 14 languages. Second and third on the list are Alexander Henry Rhind and William John Macleay. 11 of them were born in the 20th century, more than in any other period. Only one town in Highland lists more.
Born here
33
notable people
Best known
William Barclay
in 14 Wikipedia languages
First
1698
John Gow
Youngest
1990
Shane Sutherland
Most common field
Politics & Law
10 people
What stands out about Wick’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Wick is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as leaders, at 3.4 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Wick
Three names lead: William Barclay (14 languages), Alexander Henry Rhind (10) and William John Macleay (9).
#2Science & Medicine
Alexander Henry Rhind
1833–1863British scholar; (1833-1863)
10 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Politics & Law
William John Macleay
1820–1891Politician and naturalist in New South Wales, Australia (1820-1891)
9 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Wick’s famous people were born
More were born in the 1830s than in any other decade: 4.
Politics & LawSportsWriting & ArtsScience & MedicineMilitaryBusinessNotableFaithMusic
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Wick
30 more names, born between 1698 and 1990.
Josiah Symon
1846–1934Barrister and politician in South Australia (1846–1934)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Donald Sutherland
1835–1919New Zealand soldier, explorer, accommodation-house keeper.
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
David Sutherland
1803–1879Merchant, farmer and politician in South Australia (1803–1879)
BusinessWikipedia ↗
David Macbeth Sutherland
1883–1973(1883 - 1973) Scottish painter (1883–1973)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Questions about famous people from Wick
Who is the most famous person from Wick?
William Barclay (British author, theologian, radio and TV presenter and Church of Scotland minister (1907-1978)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 14 languages. Next come Alexander Henry Rhind and William John Macleay.
How many famous people were born in Wick?
33 people born in Wick have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 36 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Wick known for?
Among its famous people, leaders: 10 of the 33. That is 30% of the town’s list, against 9% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Wick?
John Gow, born in 1698. The youngest on the list was born in 1990.
Who counts as from Wick?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Wick’s locality (the NRS 2022 locality boundary), a hospital or district within it included, whose English Wikipedia article agrees. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.
Why is someone missing?
Their Wikidata birthplace may be a bigger area (“London”), another town, or missing, or their article may give no birthplace. We only list people both sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.
From Wikidata (CC0: birthplaces, descriptions, years, occupations) and English Wikipedia (each person’s article confirms the birthplace; linked, not quoted). Birthplaces are placed in the town by National Records of Scotland’s Census 2022 locality boundaries (Open Government Licence v3.0). Ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Fields are read from Wikidata’s description and occupations. “The usual town”: everyone listed across UK towns. Portraits: each person’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (15)
- Alexander Henry Rhind: Robert C Bell, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William John Macleay: J. Hubert, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Evan Oliphant: Paul Hornby, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Gow: Geo. S. Harris and Sons / Allen & Ginter, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Josiah Symon: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlotte McShane: MartinPutz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Donald Sutherland: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fiona Bruce: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Magnus Cormack: Australian News and Information Bureau, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Sutherland: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ewan Morrison: Rafał Komorowski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Iain Baikie: Shandchem, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Houston: Unknown photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Doull: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Angus Mackay: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.