NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickie

Diminutive form of Richard, originally a nickname meaning "thick-set" or "stout-hearted."

In the 1881 census there were 2,365 people recorded with the Dickie surname, ranking it #1,882 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,384, ranked #2,754, down from #1,882 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dundonald, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Saltcoats North East, Beith West and Annan East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickie is 2,800 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.8%.

1881 census count

2,365

Ranked #1,882

Modern count

2,384

2016, ranked #2,754

Peak year

1901

2,800 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickie had 2,365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,882 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,384 in 2016, ranked #2,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,800 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Dickie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dickie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickie 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 1,746 #1,653
1861 historical 1,771 #1,636
1881 historical 2,365 #1,882
1891 historical 2,556 #1,860
1901 historical 2,800 #1,995
1911 historical 550 #7,287
1997 modern 2,454 #2,559
1998 modern 2,501 #2,614
1999 modern 2,534 #2,598
2000 modern 2,558 #2,560
2001 modern 2,484 #2,577
2002 modern 2,537 #2,582
2003 modern 2,452 #2,607
2004 modern 2,459 #2,607
2005 modern 2,436 #2,601
2006 modern 2,478 #2,564
2007 modern 2,471 #2,592
2008 modern 2,463 #2,620
2009 modern 2,494 #2,648
2010 modern 2,529 #2,673
2011 modern 2,486 #2,683
2012 modern 2,374 #2,739
2013 modern 2,403 #2,753
2014 modern 2,432 #2,739
2015 modern 2,393 #2,754
2016 modern 2,384 #2,754

Geography

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Where Dickies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dundonald, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Saltcoats North East, Beith West, Annan East, Beith East and Rural and Kilbirnie South and Longbar. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dundonald Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Saltcoats North East North Ayrshire
2 Beith West North Ayrshire
3 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Beith East and Rural North Ayrshire
5 Kilbirnie South and Longbar North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Dickie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Dickie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dickie 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

Dickie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dickie falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dickie

The surname Dickie is of Scottish and English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a diminutive form of the name Richard, derived from the Old German name Rikhард, which means "powerful ruler."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Dickie can be traced back to the 13th century in Scotland. It was often spelled as Dicky or Dickey during this time. The name is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

In the 16th century, the name Dickie began to appear in various historical records and documents. One notable mention is in the Scottish Roll of Arms, where a coat of arms was registered for the Dickie family in 1562.

During the 17th century, the Dickie name spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. Some notable individuals with the surname Dickie from this period include Robert Dickie (1624-1688), a Scottish minister and author, and William Dickie (1635-1712), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer.

In the 18th century, the name Dickie continued to gain prominence, particularly in Scotland. One notable figure was James Dickie (1738-1822), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow.

As the 19th century dawned, the Dickie name spread further across the globe, with many families emigrating to North America, Australia, and other parts of the world. One notable individual from this period was Sir Samuel Dickie (1851-1925), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Senate of Canada.

Another notable figure was William Dickie (1853-1924), a Scottish-born Canadian artist and painter who is renowned for his landscapes and portraits of Indigenous peoples.

Throughout the 20th century, the Dickie name continued to be represented in various fields, including sports, academia, and the arts. One notable figure was George Dickie (1926-2020), an American philosopher and author who made significant contributions to the field of aesthetics.

In summary, the surname Dickie has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in Scotland and England. While the name has spread across the globe, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of its Scottish and English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 534 Dickies recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 534 7.20x
Ayrshire 501 29.20x
Aberdeenshire 297 13.99x
Renfrewshire 165 9.29x
Midlothian 93 3.03x
Angus 89 4.19x
Lancashire 78 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 49 7.95x
Perthshire 49 4.76x
Middlesex 43 0.19x
Dumfriesshire 36 7.11x
Yorkshire 35 0.15x
Fife 28 2.06x
Roxburghshire 28 6.74x
Argyllshire 24 3.76x
Cheshire 23 0.45x
Clackmannanshire 20 10.56x
Surrey 20 0.18x
Kincardineshire 19 6.81x
Stirlingshire 19 2.25x
Buteshire 18 12.96x
Warwickshire 17 0.29x
Kinross-shire 14 24.16x
Northumberland 13 0.38x
Banffshire 11 2.31x
Durham 11 0.16x
East Lothian 9 2.96x
Hertfordshire 9 0.57x
Kirkcudbrightshire 9 2.71x
Denbighshire 8 0.92x
Derbyshire 8 0.22x
Hampshire 8 0.17x
Ross-shire 8 1.27x
West Lothian 8 2.32x
Wigtownshire 8 2.63x
Caithness 6 1.91x
Cumberland 6 0.30x
Kent 4 0.05x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Lincolnshire 3 0.08x
Selkirkshire 3 1.45x
Shropshire 3 0.15x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.22x
Devon 2 0.04x
Essex 2 0.04x
Morayshire 2 0.56x
Worcestershire 2 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.15x
Westmorland 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 190 Dickies recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.36x.

Place Total Index
Govan 190 10.36x
Barony 181 9.65x
Kilmarnock 82 40.16x
Glasgow 77 5.85x
Aberdeen Old Machar 76 17.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 49 3.97x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 39 9.82x
Ayr 37 45.70x
Montrose 37 28.75x
Old Deer 35 87.00x
Dundonald 34 53.75x
Abbey 33 12.17x
Mauchline 30 152.13x
Dundee 28 3.53x
West Greenock 28 8.78x
Beith 26 50.79x
Barrow In Furness 25 6.76x
Dalry 25 30.97x
Irvine 24 50.37x
West Kilbride 24 146.79x
New Deer 23 59.85x
Paisley Middle Church 23 22.24x
Girvan 22 51.09x
Largs 22 54.43x
Peterhead 21 18.70x
Stevenston 21 46.96x
Alloa 20 21.78x
Old Kilpatrick 20 27.47x
Renfrew 18 30.69x
Lambeth 15 0.75x
Penicuik 15 35.95x
St Quivox 15 25.86x
Newton On Ayr 14 27.25x
Portmoak 14 169.90x
Abernethy 13 96.73x
Middlesbrough 13 4.39x
Dalmellington 12 23.79x
Dumfries 12 24.02x
Kilbirnie 12 29.13x
Kilmaurs 12 41.11x
Lanark 12 20.12x
Mearns 12 38.56x
Paisley Low Church 12 21.34x
Abdie 11 142.49x
Cadder 11 20.09x
Cathcart 11 11.44x
Dumbarton 11 12.83x
Everton 11 1.27x
Kelso 11 26.58x
Stewarton 11 32.40x
Wentworth 11 78.24x
Hamilton 10 4.84x
Maryhill 10 6.89x
Rathen 10 44.94x
St Pancras London 10 0.54x
Stockport 10 3.84x
Alva 9 22.32x
Bute North 9 95.74x
East Kilbride 9 28.35x
Islington London 9 0.41x
Kilwinning 9 16.25x
Lonmay 9 46.70x
Port Glasgow 9 10.48x
Tyrie 9 33.77x
Banchory Ternan 8 33.14x
Birmingham 8 0.42x
Campbeltown 8 10.39x
Coylton 8 32.87x
Cromarty 8 47.48x
Dailly 8 45.71x
Dunbar 8 18.79x
Dunfermline 8 3.83x
East Barnet 8 25.53x
Glassford 8 69.99x
Gresford Gwersyllt 8 29.78x
Kirkdale 8 1.75x
Logie 8 21.67x
Ochiltree 8 67.80x
Stratford On Avon 8 24.95x
Makerston 7 234.11x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 17
James 13
Thomas 11
George 9
Robert 9
Alexander 8
David 6
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Mathew 4
Henry 3
Hugh 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Frederick 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Duncan 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Hector 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dickie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,365 people were recorded with the Dickie surname. That placed it at #1,882 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,384 in 2016. That gives Dickie a modern rank of #2,754.

What does the Dickie surname mean?

Diminutive form of Richard, originally a nickname meaning "thick-set" or "stout-hearted."

What does the Dickie map show?

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