He was the son of Richard Sykes, a prosperous merchant, of Kingston upon Hull.
The Sykes Baronetcy, of Kingsknowes in Galashiels in the County of Selkirk, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 17 June 1921 for Charles Sykes, a woollen manufacturer and Member of Parliament for Huddersfield.
The Heir Presumptive to the Baronetcy is the 11th Baronet's brother, Edward William Sykes, b.
The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother, Jeremy John Sykes (born 1946).
The Heir Apparent to the Baronetcy is Stephen David Sykes (born 1978), eldest son of the 4th Baronet.