The Online Etymology Dictionary says, Meaning “awkward provincial person” was established by 1700.
I’m wondering established where? My guess would be to call this an Americanism, but I wouldn’t put money on it. They also talk about “rube” having a similar definition and also from a man’s name; hick from Richard and rube from Reuben, both from essentially the same time period.
I don’t think either name evokes anything in particular these days. I was certainly surprised to learn that Hick was a pet name for Richard. Were these common names for “hicks” in 1700? If you saw the name Richard Smith in print, would you assume this person was “country” or would it be that only provincial people used the Hick pet name for Richard?
When we moved out of the city several years ago, we first decided to become ‘hicks’. But the connotation was off, so we switched to ‘bumpkin’ and it’s been pleasant ever since.
Bumpkin:
Notice that ‘hick’ is an awkward provincial person, whereas ‘bumpkin’ is merely country. Small, but important, difference.