NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickerson

An English occupational surname referring to the son of someone named Dicker, a nickname for Richard.

In the 1881 census there were 1,218 people recorded with the Dickerson surname, ranking it #3,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,533, ranked #4,036, down from #3,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Gamlingay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Cornwall and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickerson is 1,820 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

1,218

Ranked #3,320

Modern count

1,533

2016, ranked #4,036

Peak year

1998

1,820 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickerson had 1,218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016, ranked #4,036.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,571 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dickerson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dickerson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickerson 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 909 #3,031
1861 historical 916 #3,026
1881 historical 1,218 #3,320
1891 historical 1,395 #3,120
1901 historical 1,559 #3,304
1911 historical 1,571 #3,090
1997 modern 1,753 #3,409
1998 modern 1,820 #3,420
1999 modern 1,809 #3,461
2000 modern 1,793 #3,469
2001 modern 1,738 #3,497
2002 modern 1,777 #3,507
2003 modern 1,700 #3,581
2004 modern 1,681 #3,618
2005 modern 1,632 #3,672
2006 modern 1,634 #3,678
2007 modern 1,612 #3,742
2008 modern 1,611 #3,775
2009 modern 1,687 #3,703
2010 modern 1,704 #3,758
2011 modern 1,656 #3,806
2012 modern 1,553 #3,955
2013 modern 1,577 #3,965
2014 modern 1,576 #3,992
2015 modern 1,562 #3,984
2016 modern 1,533 #4,036

Geography

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Where Dickersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, Gamlingay and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Cornwall, Suffolk Coastal, Bradford and Norwich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 Gamlingay Cambridgeshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 021 Swansea
2 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
3 Suffolk Coastal 012 Suffolk Coastal
4 Bradford 015 Bradford
5 Norwich 003 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickerson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickerson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dickerson, 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 Dickerson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dickerson 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dickerson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dickerson is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dickerson falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dickerson 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 Dickerson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dickerson

The surname Dickerson is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Richard, which originated from the Old German name Ricard, meaning "powerful" and "brave". The suffix "-son" was commonly added to personal names to indicate "son of".

Dickerson is believed to have originated in the county of Lancashire, England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where it appears as Richardesone. Similar spellings such as Dickerson, Dicerson, and Dickarson were also used in various regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the Dickerson name was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record of landowners and tenants. This suggests that the family had established roots in different parts of England by that time.

A notable early bearer of the name was John Dickerson, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who lived in the late 14th century. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Dickerson, a member of Parliament for the borough of Hertford in the late 16th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dickerson surname was often associated with the village of Dickerson, located in the county of Lancashire. It is believed that the village derived its name from the family, further solidifying the connection between the surname and the region.

In the 18th century, William Dickerson (1719-1792) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London. His innovative designs and contributions to the field of horology earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

Another notable Dickerson was James Dickerson (1825-1901), a British trade unionist and politician who played a significant role in the early labor movement. He served as the President of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and was elected to the House of Commons in 1885.

Throughout its history, the Dickerson surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, continuing its legacy across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickerson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickerson 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. Norfolk leads with 284 Dickersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.50x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 284 15.50x
Cambridgeshire 184 24.37x
Middlesex 171 1.43x
Suffolk 141 9.71x
Northamptonshire 69 6.15x
Surrey 50 0.86x
Hertfordshire 47 5.72x
Huntingdonshire 40 16.90x
Essex 36 1.53x
Gloucestershire 26 1.11x
Lincolnshire 25 1.31x
Devon 21 0.85x
Lancashire 19 0.13x
Kent 15 0.37x
Durham 12 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.75x
Warwickshire 12 0.40x
Staffordshire 11 0.27x
Derbyshire 10 0.54x
Bedfordshire 6 0.97x
Northumberland 6 0.34x
Berkshire 5 0.56x
Wiltshire 5 0.47x
Sussex 4 0.20x
Yorkshire 4 0.03x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.28x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire leads with 33 Dickersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 419.85x.

Place Total Index
Gamlingay 33 419.85x
Hackney London 29 4.34x
Irthlingborough 28 254.78x
Hitcham 26 710.38x
Mile End Old Town London 25 9.85x
Thetford St Mary 23 460.92x
St Andrewthe Less 22 25.50x
Heigham 20 20.33x
Bucklesham 19 1450.38x
Swaffham 19 127.43x
Combs 18 371.13x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 18 32.72x
Wimblington 18 404.49x
Albury 16 625.00x
West Ham 16 3.08x
Islington London 12 1.04x
Newmarket All Sts 12 215.44x
Hatley St George 11 2037.04x
March 11 43.51x
Sutton St Mary 11 61.04x
Tasburgh 11 604.40x
Ware 11 46.71x
Weston Colville 11 514.02x
Hickling 10 495.05x
Edmonton 9 9.37x
Hertford All Saints 9 196.08x
Ipswich St Peter 9 46.04x
Toxteth Park 9 1.88x
Whittlesey St Mary St 9 34.13x
Wonersh 9 124.14x
Beeston With Bittering 8 390.24x
Burton Upon Trent 8 8.50x
Chelsea London 8 2.23x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 8.91x
Eynesbury 8 145.99x
Gaywood 8 243.16x
Hemley 8 2000.00x
Isleworth 8 15.09x
Kirstead 8 975.61x
Poplar London 8 3.56x
St Marylebone London 8 1.26x
Thorpe Next Norwich 8 41.17x
Wells Next Sea 8 74.84x
Winwick In Oundle 8 655.74x
Aylsham 7 64.16x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.35x
Brandon 7 71.07x
Bromley London 7 2.67x
Cratfield 7 346.53x
Great Yarmouth 7 4.61x
Littleport 7 48.54x
Morning Thorpe 7 1428.57x
Norwich St Stephen 7 41.62x
Somersham 7 121.74x
Walpole St Andrew 7 244.76x
Wendling 7 476.19x
Aldeburgh 6 69.85x
Bottisham 6 93.31x
Braughing 6 142.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 2.73x
Cheltenham 6 3.33x
Denston 6 550.46x
Hawkesbury 6 75.38x
Lewisham 6 2.77x
Litcham 6 182.37x
Little Abington 6 555.56x
Martlesham 6 294.12x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 6.53x
Raunds 6 52.54x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.51x
Thetford St Cuthbert 6 90.50x
Toft 6 576.92x
Tottenham 6 3.16x
Wimbledon 6 9.20x
Wistow 6 375.00x
Battisford 5 282.49x
Ealing 5 4.69x
Norwich St Michael At 5 47.04x
Sherston Magna 5 78.74x
Wembury 5 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Elizabeth 44
Eliza 31
Sarah 30
Ann 26
Annie 21
Alice 20
Jane 19
Emma 17
Emily 16
Ellen 15
Fanny 13
Florence 13
Edith 11
Charlotte 10
Hannah 10
Harriet 10
Maria 10
Martha 10
Rose 10
Caroline 9
Susan 9
Ada 8
Rebecca 8
Louisa 7
Harriett 6
Esther 5
Agnes 4
Anna 4
Elizth. 4
Julia 4
Rosa 4
Clara 3
Isabella 3
Jemima 3
Jessie 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Priscilla 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Lilly 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Mercy 2
Phebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 60
James 54
George 46
Henry 29
Charles 27
Thomas 24
Robert 22
Joseph 21
Arthur 15
Alfred 14
David 14
Frederick 14
Walter 11
Herbert 9
Samuel 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
Daniel 7
Ernest 7
Frank 6
Harry 6
Dennis 5
Fred 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Philip 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Fredk. 3
Robt. 3
Dathan 2
Fountain 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Joe 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Levi 2
Maurice 2
Sidney 2
Watts 2
Bartrand 1
Danl. 1
Ewart 1
Fitz 1

FAQ

Dickerson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickerson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,218 people were recorded with the Dickerson surname. That placed it at #3,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickerson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016. That gives Dickerson a modern rank of #4,036.

What does the Dickerson surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to the son of someone named Dicker, a nickname for Richard.

What does the Dickerson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dickerson 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.