NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickeson

A variant spelling of the English surname Dickinson, derived from the given name Richard.

In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Dickeson surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #15,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Christchurch and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Carmarthenshire and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickeson is 222 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

151

Ranked #15,419

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1911

222 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickeson had 151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dickeson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dickeson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickeson 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 151 #15,419
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 220 #14,245
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 161 #20,176
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 154 #22,536
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Dickesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Christchurch, Lambeth and St George the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Carmarthenshire and Northumberland. 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 Christchurch London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 012 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 016 Sunderland
3 Carmarthenshire 025 Carmarthenshire
4 Sunderland 024 Sunderland
5 Northumberland 019 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickeson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickeson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dickeson, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Dickeson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dickeson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dickeson is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dickeson is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dickeson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dickeson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dickeson

The surname Dickeson originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "dīc" meaning "ditch" and "sunu" meaning "son." It suggests that the earliest bearers were the sons of someone who lived near or worked with ditches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1195, where it appears as "Ricardus Dickesone." This indicates that the surname was already well-established by the late 12th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, the name is listed as "Johannes Dykessone," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. These early records demonstrate the name's ties to rural areas and agricultural communities.

The Dickeson surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was John Dickeson, a prominent landowner and member of parliament who lived in Lincolnshire during the 15th century (c. 1420 - 1490).

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Dickeson, a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century (c. 1525 - 1599). He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and contributions to the city's infrastructure.

In the 17th century, Robert Dickeson (1596 - 1663) was a renowned Puritan minister who served as the vicar of Battersea and played a significant role in the religious upheavals of that period.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Thomas Dickeson (1720 - 1785), a respected physician and author who wrote several influential treatises on medical topics, including "An Essay on the Means of Preserving Health" published in 1771.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the achievements of the 19th-century explorer and naturalist, William Dickeson (1819 - 1892), who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in various parts of the world during his extensive travels.

While the surname Dickeson may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left an indelible mark across various fields, from politics and commerce to religion and science, throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickeson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickeson 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. Surrey leads with 32 Dickesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.

County Total Index
Surrey 32 4.46x
Middlesex 23 1.56x
Kent 16 3.18x
Oxfordshire 15 16.49x
Durham 13 2.97x
Essex 10 3.44x
Roxburghshire 10 37.48x
Norfolk 7 3.09x
Lincolnshire 6 2.55x
Northumberland 5 2.28x
Yorkshire 4 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.51x
Sussex 3 1.21x
Warwickshire 2 0.54x
Angus 1 0.73x
Staffordshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 16 Dickesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.46x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 16 12.46x
Cavers 10 1492.54x
Oxford St Giles 10 230.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 30.36x
West Ham 9 14.02x
Stoke Newington London 8 69.75x
Burgh St Peter 7 3888.89x
Sutton St Mary 6 269.06x
Ford 5 381.68x
Gateshead 4 12.19x
Oxford All Sts 4 2000.00x
Penshaw 4 303.03x
Southwark Christchurch 4 57.97x
St Clement Danes London 4 131.15x
Westminster St John 4 22.30x
Beckenham 3 45.66x
Brighton 3 5.99x
Canterbury St George 3 500.00x
Chatham 3 21.69x
Dover St James 3 136.36x
Nottingham St Mary 3 5.84x
St Marylebone London 3 3.81x
Birmingham 2 1.62x
Camberwell 2 2.13x
Maidstone 2 13.36x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 17.61x
Newington 2 49.75x
Swinefleet 2 317.46x
Widdrington 2 384.62x
Alnwick 1 26.53x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.56x
Christ Church Newgate 1 144.93x
Dorking 1 20.75x
Folkestone 1 10.26x
Harrow 1 44.44x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 44.44x
Holywell 1 232.56x
Paddington London 1 1.85x
St Vigeans 1 13.57x
Wigginton 1 238.10x
Woolwich 1 5.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Alice 6
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Albena 2
Ann 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
L.M.S. 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Arthur 8
Charles 6
William 6
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Robert 4
George 2
Herbert 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Archie 1
Benjaman 1
Benjamin 1
Campbell 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Gordon 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Obediah 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Thomas 1
Virgil 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dickeson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickeson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Dickeson surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickeson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Dickeson a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Dickeson surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Dickinson, derived from the given name Richard.

What does the Dickeson map show?

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