NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickens

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near a ditch or dyke.

In the 1881 census there were 3,134 people recorded with the Dickens surname, ranking it #1,437 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,828, ranked #1,405, up from #1,437 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, East Northamptonshire and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickens is 5,419 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.1%.

1881 census count

3,134

Ranked #1,437

Modern count

4,828

2016, ranked #1,405

Peak year

1999

5,419 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickens had 3,134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,437 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,828 in 2016, ranked #1,405.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,571 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dickens surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dickens surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dickens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickens over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,258 #2,267
1861 historical 1,541 #1,846
1881 historical 3,134 #1,437
1891 historical 3,402 #1,400
1901 historical 4,290 #1,314
1911 historical 4,571 #1,127
1997 modern 5,272 #1,237
1998 modern 5,405 #1,258
1999 modern 5,419 #1,266
2000 modern 5,299 #1,285
2001 modern 5,172 #1,284
2002 modern 5,247 #1,299
2003 modern 5,167 #1,283
2004 modern 5,176 #1,278
2005 modern 5,064 #1,291
2006 modern 5,001 #1,308
2007 modern 4,985 #1,325
2008 modern 5,007 #1,324
2009 modern 5,120 #1,330
2010 modern 5,206 #1,337
2011 modern 5,156 #1,329
2012 modern 4,990 #1,340
2013 modern 5,022 #1,354
2014 modern 5,049 #1,360
2015 modern 4,940 #1,377
2016 modern 4,828 #1,405

Geography

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Where Dickens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, East Northamptonshire, Cheshire West and Chester and Erewash. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
2 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
3 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
4 East Northamptonshire 009 East Northamptonshire
5 Erewash 006 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickens

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dickens surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickens

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dickens, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dickens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dickens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dickens is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dickens is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dickens falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dickens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dickens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dickens

The surname DICKENS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a patronymic surname, derived from the male given name Richard, which was a popular name among the Normans after the conquest of England in 1066. The name Richard itself is believed to have come from the Germanic words "ric" meaning "ruler" and "hard" meaning "brave" or "hardy".

The earliest known spelling variations of the surname DICKENS include Dykkyn, Dikken, Diken, and Dykyn, which can be found in various records dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. These early spellings suggest that the name may have originally been a nickname or diminutive form of Richard, such as "Dickon" or "Dicken".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DICKENS can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296, where a certain John Diken is mentioned. Another early record is from the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which lists a William Dykkyn.

The surname DICKENS is also associated with various place names in England, such as Dickens Heath in Solihull and Dickens Lane in Poynton, Cheshire. These place names likely originated from individuals or families bearing the surname DICKENS who once lived or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname DICKENS, including:

1. Geoffrey Dickens (c. 1449 - 1521), an English clergyman and diplomat who served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VII.

2. John Dickens (1785 - 1851), the father of the famous author Charles Dickens, who worked as a clerk in the Navy Pay Office.

3. Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870), the renowned English novelist known for works such as "Oliver Twist," "A Christmas Carol," and "Great Expectations."

4. Walter Dexter Dickens (1846 - 1916), an English-born Australian politician who served as the 15th Premier of Queensland.

5. Monica Dickens (1915 - 1992), a British novelist and great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, best known for her autobiographical works and stories of nursing during World War II.

The surname DICKENS has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in England. While its origins are rooted in the given name Richard, the surname has evolved and been associated with various place names and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickens surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northamptonshire leads with 496 Dickens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.25x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 496 17.25x
Middlesex 467 1.53x
Lancashire 236 0.65x
Staffordshire 176 1.71x
Yorkshire 168 0.55x
Cheshire 156 2.31x
Bedfordshire 155 9.79x
Buckinghamshire 145 7.85x
Surrey 140 0.94x
Derbyshire 131 2.74x
Warwickshire 105 1.36x
Somerset 70 1.42x
Worcestershire 62 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 61 1.48x
Kent 60 0.58x
Leicestershire 46 1.36x
Lincolnshire 45 0.92x
Hertfordshire 38 1.80x
Oxfordshire 35 1.85x
Essex 32 0.53x
Berkshire 31 1.35x
Glamorgan 30 0.56x
Lanarkshire 28 0.28x
Rutland 23 10.25x
Gloucestershire 22 0.37x
Huntingdonshire 22 3.63x
Durham 19 0.21x
Hampshire 19 0.30x
Renfrewshire 19 0.80x
Norfolk 11 0.23x
Herefordshire 9 0.72x
Northumberland 9 0.20x
Denbighshire 8 0.69x
Devon 8 0.13x
Midlothian 7 0.17x
Sussex 6 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.39x
Monmouthshire 5 0.23x
Suffolk 4 0.11x
Anglesey 3 0.55x
Royal Navy 3 0.82x
Shropshire 3 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.07x
East Lothian 2 0.49x
Roxburghshire 2 0.36x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Brecknockshire 1 0.16x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.12x
Ross-shire 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 62 Dickens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 62 2.52x
Rushden 57 148.21x
Easton In Gordano 52 262.63x
Ravensthorpe 51 982.66x
Shoreditch London 50 3.77x
Islington London 45 1.52x
Lambeth 45 1.69x
Luton 44 16.06x
Boughton 40 1183.43x
Northampton St Giles 38 34.70x
Kensington London 37 2.18x
Riseley 36 359.28x
Ecclesall Bierlow 34 5.52x
Finedon 33 131.06x
Kingswinford 33 8.81x
West Bromwich 33 5.59x
Brixworth 29 235.96x
Bethnal Green London 28 2.11x
St Marylebone London 28 1.72x
Macclesfield 26 8.67x
Peterborough 25 12.01x
Willesden 24 8.33x
Birmingham 23 0.90x
Newton Longville 23 466.53x
Salford 23 2.16x
Newton In Makerfield 22 19.81x
Wellingborough 22 15.22x
Brampton 21 31.40x
Loughborough 21 13.66x
Whitchurch 20 263.85x
Northampton St Sepulchre 19 12.99x
Rugby 19 18.22x
Burton Upon Trent 18 7.46x
Hackney London 18 1.05x
Hammersmith London 18 2.39x
Sheffield 18 1.87x
Battersea 17 1.51x
Kettering 17 14.62x
Mursley 17 285.71x
Aston 16 0.75x
Daventry 16 39.35x
Manchester 16 0.98x
Great Catworth 15 238.47x
Worsley 15 6.71x
Gorton 14 4.11x
Marston 14 136.45x
West Ham 14 1.05x
Wolverhampton 14 1.77x
Barton Upon Irwell 13 4.76x
Chelsea London 13 1.41x
Lye 13 19.57x
New Monkland 13 4.45x
Northampton Priory St 13 7.54x
Rotherhithe 13 3.44x
Cheetham 12 4.44x
Clifton Reynes 12 538.12x
Droylsden 12 10.14x
Great Brickhill 12 205.83x
Hampstead London 12 2.52x
Heaton Norris 12 5.81x
Leicester St Margaret 12 1.45x
Bermondsey 11 1.21x
Draughton 11 643.27x
Dudley 11 2.27x
Kinver 11 36.99x
Northampton All Sts 11 11.28x
Paddington London 11 0.98x
Port Glasgow 11 9.61x
St James Isle Of Grain 11 372.88x
Aspley Guise 10 66.01x
Brimington 10 27.53x
Chesterfield 10 5.58x
Edmonton 10 4.06x
Isleworth 10 7.36x
Neithrop 10 15.77x
Southam 10 53.39x
Wardleworth 10 4.83x
West Derby 10 0.94x
Wimbledon 10 5.98x
Latchford 9 20.08x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dickens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 204
Sarah 130
Elizabeth 129
Ann 55
Emma 54
Annie 52
Eliza 52
Ellen 52
Jane 46
Emily 37
Hannah 35
Alice 34
Martha 30
Fanny 25
Caroline 24
Edith 22
Florence 21
Harriet 21
Louisa 19
Charlotte 18
Frances 18
Kate 18
Anne 14
Sophia 14
Agnes 13
Clara 13
Harriett 13
Margaret 13
Maria 13
Ada 12
Matilda 12
Catherine 11
Lucy 11
Isabella 10
Eleanor 9
Susannah 9
Amelia 8
Amy 8
Ethel 8
Lydia 7
Phoebe 7
Anna 6
Esther 6
Julia 6
Minnie 6
Rebecca 6
Bertha 5
Mabel 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dickens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 186
John 154
George 131
Charles 122
Thomas 107
James 57
Joseph 57
Henry 50
Edward 35
Arthur 34
Robert 34
Samuel 32
Alfred 29
Frederick 29
Harry 23
Albert 19
Richard 19
Walter 19
Francis 15
Herbert 14
Stephen 14
David 13
Ernest 13
Frank 13
Benjamin 10
Thos. 8
Daniel 7
Fred 7
Fredk. 7
Wm. 7
Edwin 6
Geo. 6
Alexander 5
Fredrick 5
Isaac 5
Andrew 4
Edmund 4
Jesse 4
Matthew 4
Willm. 4
Enock 3
Henery 3
Jno. 3
Mark 3
Owen 3
Percy 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Wilson 3
Lewis 2

FAQ

Dickens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,134 people were recorded with the Dickens surname. That placed it at #1,437 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,828 in 2016. That gives Dickens a modern rank of #1,405.

What does the Dickens surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near a ditch or dyke.

What does the Dickens map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dickens bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.