 Although pronounced differently , Wicca is related to the Old English word wicca , which referred to sorcerers in Anglo @-@ Saxon England . In the early 1950s , English Wiccan Gerald Gardner , founder of the Gardnerian tradition , referred to the Pagan Witchcraft community as the Wica . He claimed to have learned the term during his initiation into the New Forest coven in 1939 . By the late 1950s , Gardner 's rival Charles Cardell , founder of his own tradition , had begun referring to the religion 's followers as Wiccens , and possibly used Wicca in reference to the religion itself . 
 Although pronounced differently , Wicca is related to the Old English word wicca , which referred to sorcerers in Anglo @-@ Saxon England . In the early 1950s , English Wiccan Gerald Gardner , founder of the Gardnerian tradition , referred to the Pagan Witchcraft community as the Wica . He claimed to <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> learned the term during his initiation into the New Forest coven in 1939 . By the late 1950s , Gardner <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>rival Charles Cardell , founder of his own tradition , <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> begun referring to the religion <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>followers as Wiccens , and possibly used Wicca in reference to the religion itself . 
Although pronounced differently , Wicca is related to da Old English word wicca , which referred to sorcerers in Anglo @-@ Saxon England . In the early 1950s , English Wiccan Gerald Gardner , founder of the Gardnerian tradition , referred to tdaPagan Witchcraft community as thdaica . He claimed to done learned the term durin his initiation into the New Forest coven in 1939 . By thedate 1950s , Gardner  rival Charles Cardell , founder of his own tradition , done begun referring to the religion  followers as Wiccens , and possibly used Wicca in reference to the religion itself .