Van Slyke

Van Slyke or Van Slycke is a Dutch toponymic surname meaning "of/from Slyke". The Dictionary of American Family Names published by Oxford University Press documents the two most likely meanings of the word "Slyke" here:

1. from Middle Dutch slijcke "mire", "marshy place" (modern Dutch slijk)
2. from a place named after this word, such as Slijkenburg in Friesland, Slijkewijck in Gelderland or possibly Slik in North Holland