UK surname
A variant of the surname Dickinson, derived from the given name Dick, a diminutive of Richard.
In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Dickison surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #19,410 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Bedrule and Warkworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickison is 179 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.1%.
1881 census count
103
Ranked #19,410
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1851
179 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dickison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dickison surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 179 | #11,346 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 103 | #19,410 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 90 | #28,360 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 59 | #32,787 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 61 | #34,228 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 73 | #33,587 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Bedrule, Warkworth, Duns and Rutherglen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelso | Roxburgh |
| 2 | Bedrule | Roxburgh |
| 3 | Warkworth | Northumberland |
| 4 | Duns | Berwick |
| 5 | Rutherglen | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dickison surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dickison, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dickison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dickison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dickison is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dickison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dickison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dickison is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name "Diccon" or "Dick," which was a diminutive form of the name Richard. The suffix "-son" was commonly added to indicate "son of," making Dickison mean "son of Dick" or "son of Richard."
This surname is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, particularly in the northern regions of England, where the use of patronymic surnames was prevalent. The name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Dickinson, Dickison, Dickeson, and Dickson.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated 1273, which mentions a William Dickeson. The Dickison surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297, with an entry for a William Dickeson.
In the 14th century, the Dickison surname was widespread in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such person was John Dickison, a merchant who lived in York in the late 1300s and was mentioned in the city's records.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dickison surname continued to spread across various parts of England, with some families settling in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Westmorland. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Dickison, a clergyman who served as the Rector of Elsdon in Northumberland in the late 1600s.
In the late 18th century, James Dickison, born in 1756, was a prominent writer and historian from Scotland who authored several works on Scottish history and antiquities. Another individual of note was William Dickison, born in 1790, who served as a British naval officer and participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
During the 19th century, the Dickison surname gained recognition in various fields. John Dickison, born in 1807, was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Robert Dickison, born in 1833, was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to educational institutions in the United States.
While the Dickison surname has a rich history and has been borne by many notable individuals throughout the centuries, it is essential to note that this information is based on historical records and may not be a comprehensive account of every person with this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickison surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Roxburghshire leads with 27 Dickisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Roxburghshire | 27 | 149.83x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.42x |
| Midlothian | 9 | 6.75x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.59x |
| Renfrewshire | 7 | 9.08x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 1.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 4.47x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.35x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.51x |
| Berwickshire | 3 | 24.90x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.30x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.91x |
| East Lothian | 2 | 15.17x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.41x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.48x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.51x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 21.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kelso in Roxburghshire leads with 14 Dickisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 777.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kelso | 14 | 777.78x |
| Morebattle | 12 | 3529.41x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 9 | 16.79x |
| Guisbrough | 8 | 372.09x |
| Cathcart | 7 | 167.87x |
| Bradford | 6 | 25.15x |
| Cropwell Bishop | 6 | 2727.27x |
| Rutherglen | 6 | 127.12x |
| Litherland | 5 | 202.43x |
| Swineshead | 3 | 576.92x |
| Wingate | 3 | 147.78x |
| Coventry Holy Trinity | 2 | 26.70x |
| Oldhamstocks | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 1 | 26.95x |
| Chester St Oswald | 1 | 25.13x |
| Compton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Coulsdon | 1 | 113.64x |
| Dunse | 1 | 87.72x |
| Eccles | 1 | 188.68x |
| Eyemouth | 1 | 99.01x |
| Heckington | 1 | 163.93x |
| Innerleithen | 1 | 80.65x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.04x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.81x |
| Knutsford Nether | 1 | 75.19x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.15x |
| Linton | 1 | 526.32x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 1 | 136.99x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.88x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.50x |
| Walthamstow | 1 | 14.14x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.90x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dickison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dickison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dickison households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Forgeman (B Smith) | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Carpenter Joiner | 1 |
| Chemist | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardener Dom | 1 |
| Governess (Tea) | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Labourer At Coke Works | 1 |
| Labourer Gas Works | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Miller And Baker (Corn) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Stationers Assistnt | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Dickison surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Dickison a modern rank of #33,585.
A variant of the surname Dickinson, derived from the given name Dick, a diminutive of Richard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dickison bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.