It is about one mile north of the A422 road between Milton Keynes and Buckingham and forms part of West Northamptonshire district.

The modern village dates from Saxon times and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

An episode of the Channel 4 TV programme Time Team featured multiple archaeological digs in Wicken and researched its history.

The wealthier Wick Dive takes its name from William de Dive, who acquired it in 1242, while Wick Hamon derives from the de Hamon family, who held the estate in the 12th century.

The Wick portion is either derived from the Saxon word wick for farm or the Roman word vicus for settlement, often associated with an adjacent Roman garrison, farm, or centre of industry.