This unusual name is of English locational origin, from either of the places called 'Fishwick' in Devonshire and in Lancashire. The latter is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Fiscuic', and by 1202 as 'Fiskwic'. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th Century 'fisc', fish, and 'wic', village, hamlet, or outlying farm, so the placename means 'the farm or village where fish was sold'. The name development has included 'Robert de Fisshewyk' (1327, Yorkshire), and 'John Fysshewick' (1582, Lancashire). The 'Records of Wills at Chester' records the will of one 'Anthony Fishwick of Preston' in 1606. One 'John Fishwick' married 'Margery Clayton' on the 17th January 1664 at Leyland in Lancashire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry de Fiswich, which was dated 1203, The Lancashire Pipe Rolls, during the reign of King John, 'Lackland', 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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