NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickinson

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Dickin, a medieval diminutive of Dick, itself a diminutive of Richard.

In the 1881 census there were 12,771 people recorded with the Dickinson surname, ranking it #322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18,120, ranked #330, down from #322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Carlisle and Chorley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickinson is 19,960 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

12,771

Ranked #322

Modern count

18,120

2016, ranked #330

Peak year

1911

19,960 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickinson had 12,771 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 18,120 in 2016, ranked #330.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19,960 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dickinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dickinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickinson 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 8,400 #322
1861 historical 9,193 #296
1881 historical 12,771 #322
1891 historical 13,868 #305
1901 historical 15,876 #322
1911 historical 19,960 #226
1997 modern 18,999 #302
1998 modern 19,556 #304
1999 modern 19,767 #304
2000 modern 19,649 #304
2001 modern 19,119 #304
2002 modern 19,483 #305
2003 modern 18,970 #307
2004 modern 18,964 #305
2005 modern 18,530 #309
2006 modern 18,506 #308
2007 modern 18,643 #308
2008 modern 18,626 #312
2009 modern 19,074 #311
2010 modern 19,342 #313
2011 modern 19,000 #318
2012 modern 18,361 #322
2013 modern 18,681 #324
2014 modern 18,703 #325
2015 modern 18,388 #328
2016 modern 18,120 #330

Geography

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Where Dickinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester, Preston and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Carlisle, Chorley, Barnsley and Sheffield. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 001 Boston
2 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
3 Chorley 013 Chorley
4 Barnsley 028 Barnsley
5 Sheffield 003 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickinson

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

Dickinson 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

Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dickinson

The surname Dickinson is of English origin, derived from the medieval occupational name "Diccon", a diminutive of the personal name "Dick", itself a pet form of "Richard". The suffix "-son" denotes "son of", indicating that the name originated as a patronymic, referring to the son of someone named Dick or Richard.

The earliest recorded instances of the Dickinson surname date back to the late 12th century in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Dycunson, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199.

In the 13th century, the Dickinson name appeared in several historical records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Dikynessone". The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, recorded as "Dykenessone".

The Dickinsons were prominent landowners and influential figures in various parts of England during the medieval and early modern periods. One notable Dickinson was John Dickinson (1576-1647), an English Puritan minister and theologian who played a significant role in the Westminster Assembly.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Jonathan Dickinson (1663-1722), a Quaker merchant and the first president of the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University. He was born in Massachusetts and played a crucial role in the establishment of higher education in colonial America.

In the literary realm, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), the renowned American poet, is undoubtedly one of the most famous individuals with the Dickinson surname. Her innovative poetic style and reclusive lifestyle have made her one of the most influential figures in American literature.

Other notable Dickinsons include John Dickinson (1732-1808), a founding father and one of the most prominent statesmen of the American Revolution, and Angie Dickinson (born 1931), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "Rio Bravo" and "Dressed to Kill".

The Dickinson surname has continued to be prominent throughout history, with bearers making significant contributions in various fields, including politics, education, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickinson 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. Lancashire leads with 3,855 Dickinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.60x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,855 2.60x
Yorkshire 3,439 2.78x
Lincolnshire 707 3.54x
Northumberland 699 3.77x
Durham 684 1.84x
Middlesex 614 0.49x
Cumberland 399 3.71x
Cheshire 330 1.20x
Surrey 307 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 284 1.69x
Staffordshire 175 0.42x
Westmorland 138 5.03x
Hertfordshire 122 1.42x
Derbyshire 117 0.60x
Kent 108 0.25x
Warwickshire 105 0.33x
Leicestershire 89 0.64x
Gloucestershire 83 0.34x
Somerset 38 0.19x
Sussex 35 0.17x
Hampshire 34 0.13x
Northamptonshire 31 0.26x
Suffolk 30 0.20x
Midlothian 29 0.17x
Essex 26 0.11x
Worcestershire 25 0.15x
Wiltshire 23 0.21x
Devon 22 0.08x
Bedfordshire 21 0.33x
Isle of Man 18 0.78x
Norfolk 18 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 17 0.22x
Lanarkshire 14 0.03x
Oxfordshire 12 0.16x
Berwickshire 11 0.73x
Shropshire 10 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.12x
Channel Islands 8 0.22x
Cornwall 7 0.05x
Denbighshire 7 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.39x
Roxburghshire 7 0.31x
Berkshire 6 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.11x
Dorset 6 0.07x
Glamorgan 6 0.03x
Brecknockshire 5 0.20x
Argyllshire 4 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.10x
Renfrewshire 4 0.04x
Royal Navy 4 0.27x
Rutland 4 0.44x
Selkirkshire 4 0.35x
Ross-shire 3 0.09x
East Lothian 2 0.12x
Fife 2 0.03x
Flintshire 2 0.06x
Perthshire 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Anglesey 1 0.05x
Angus 1 0.01x
Ayrshire 1 0.01x
Buteshire 1 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.04x
Radnorshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 259 Dickinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 259 3.71x
Preston 202 5.10x
Blackburn 165 4.19x
Wigan 151 7.30x
Sheffield 138 3.51x
Everton 109 2.31x
West Derby 103 2.38x
Salford 100 2.30x
Barrow In Furness 94 4.67x
Ulverston 90 20.87x
Chorley 89 10.71x
Little Bolton 89 4.68x
Oldham 85 1.78x
Hunslet 81 4.20x
Horwich 78 48.30x
Manchester 77 1.16x
Morley 77 11.98x
Nottingham St Mary 71 1.63x
Elswick 68 4.59x
Alston 67 33.85x
Castleford 65 14.44x
Great Bolton 64 3.26x
Toxteth Park 64 1.28x
Barnsley 61 4.78x
Ecclesall Bierlow 61 2.43x
Liverpool 61 0.68x
Blackrod 59 32.07x
Bramley In Bramley 57 12.04x
Lambeth 53 0.49x
Kensington London 52 0.75x
Hulme 51 1.65x
Islington London 51 0.42x
Westgate 50 4.35x
Bootle Cum Linacre 49 4.17x
Huddersfield 49 2.72x
Haydon 48 47.28x
Allendale 47 27.31x
Stockton On Tees 47 2.63x
Keighley 46 3.49x
Darlington 45 3.14x
Halifax 45 2.48x
Middlesbrough 45 2.80x
Over 45 16.08x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 44 2.74x
Westhoughton 44 11.14x
Altcar 43 183.06x
Tynemouth 43 4.33x
Camberwell 42 0.53x
Bowling 41 3.35x
Heworth 40 5.47x
Wortley In Bramley 40 4.09x
Brightside Bierlow 39 1.61x
St George Hanover Square 39 1.77x
Workington 39 6.34x
Adlington 38 27.41x
Boston 38 6.28x
Byker 38 4.14x
Egremont 38 14.84x
Aston 37 0.43x
Burnley 37 2.97x
Spittlegate 37 13.41x
St Marylebone London 37 0.56x
Sutton In Keighley 37 52.86x
Bedford 36 11.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 36 1.53x
Headingley Cum Burley 36 4.52x
Accrington 35 2.60x
Bingley 35 4.45x
Great Crosby 35 8.67x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 35 6.09x
Armley 34 6.24x
Arnold 34 13.85x
Berwick Upon Tweed 34 8.64x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 34 8.04x
Mansfield 34 5.84x
Tranmere 34 3.36x
Bethnal Green London 33 0.61x
Ince In Makerfield 33 4.79x
Pendleton In Salford 33 1.87x
Wath On Dearne 33 13.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 969
Elizabeth 543
Sarah 486
Jane 317
Ann 304
Margaret 228
Annie 222
Alice 215
Hannah 199
Ellen 198
Emma 144
Martha 136
Eliza 121
Emily 107
Isabella 88
Ada 75
Harriet 74
Fanny 67
Edith 66
Maria 61
Catherine 60
Louisa 59
Clara 58
Frances 57
Agnes 50
Kate 47
Florence 43
Anne 41
Charlotte 41
Caroline 37
Esther 34
Eleanor 33
Lucy 30
Elizth. 26
Amy 25
Betsy 25
Ruth 25
Susannah 24
Harriett 23
Rose 23
Amelia 21
Ethel 21
Rebecca 20
Julia 18
Lydia 18
Nancy 18
Susan 18
Grace 17
Matilda 17
Jessie 16

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 923
William 745
Thomas 509
James 393
George 384
Joseph 314
Robert 239
Henry 213
Charles 198
Richard 153
Edward 117
Arthur 109
Samuel 108
Alfred 96
Albert 58
Frederick 56
Harry 54
Walter 51
Peter 49
Wm. 49
Benjamin 46
Frank 46
Fred 45
Thos. 40
Herbert 39
David 37
Ralph 37
Isaac 35
Francis 34
Matthew 34
Tom 28
Ernest 26
Edwin 25
Daniel 22
Joshua 19
Geo. 18
Jno. 18
Robt. 18
Christopher 17
Jonathan 15
Jacob 14
Andrew 12
Richd. 12
Harold 11
Moses 11
Alexander 10
Anthony 10
Edmund 10
Jas. 10
Mark 9

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dickinson households.

FAQ

Dickinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,771 people were recorded with the Dickinson surname. That placed it at #322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 18,120 in 2016. That gives Dickinson a modern rank of #330.

What does the Dickinson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Dickin, a medieval diminutive of Dick, itself a diminutive of Richard.

What does the Dickinson map show?

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