NameCensus.

UK surname

Dickman

An occupational surname referring to a man who performed ditching or diking work.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Dickman surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 698, ranked #7,719, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gravesham, Carlisle and Lauder and Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dickman is 830 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

698

2016, ranked #7,719

Peak year

1999

830 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dickman had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016, ranked #7,719.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 719 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dickman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dickman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dickman 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 398 #6,057
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 639 #6,066
1901 historical 719 #6,142
1911 historical 717 #5,963
1997 modern 806 #6,505
1998 modern 823 #6,609
1999 modern 830 #6,610
2000 modern 823 #6,629
2001 modern 805 #6,624
2002 modern 819 #6,644
2003 modern 785 #6,757
2004 modern 783 #6,791
2005 modern 757 #6,905
2006 modern 769 #6,851
2007 modern 766 #6,938
2008 modern 761 #7,031
2009 modern 777 #7,051
2010 modern 794 #7,070
2011 modern 783 #7,073
2012 modern 732 #7,365
2013 modern 723 #7,545
2014 modern 711 #7,678
2015 modern 700 #7,710
2016 modern 698 #7,719

Geography

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Where Dickmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Edinburgh, St Marylebone and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gravesham, Carlisle, Lauder and Area, Rotherham and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gravesham 011 Gravesham
2 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
3 Lauder and Area Scottish Borders
4 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
5 Central Bedfordshire 011 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dickman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dickman

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

Dickman is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dickman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dickman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dickman

The surname Dickman has its origins in the northwestern region of Germany, particularly in the areas surrounding the cities of Bremen and Hamburg. It emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "dik," meaning thick or stout, combined with the word "man," referring to a person. Thus, Dickman likely referred to a stout or robust individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dickman can be found in the records of the city of Bremen, where a certain Hans Dickman is mentioned as a merchant and guild member in the year 1427. Another early reference is found in a manuscript from the town of Lübeck, dated 1481, which mentions a Gerhart Dickman, a master craftsman.

In the 16th century, the name Dickman appears to have spread to other parts of northern Germany and the Netherlands. In a document from the city of Amsterdam, dated 1574, a Pieter Dickman is listed as a respected citizen and trader.

One notable figure bearing the surname Dickman was Johann Dickman (1572-1632), a scholar and theologian from the city of Rostock. He authored several influential works on religious philosophy and served as a professor at the University of Rostock.

Another prominent individual was Christoph Dickman (1618-1692), a military commander from the region of Westphalia. He played a significant role in the latter stages of the Thirty Years' War, serving under the Swedish army.

In the 18th century, the surname Dickman can be found in records from the city of Hamburg, where a family of merchants and shipowners bearing this name gained considerable wealth and influence. One such individual was Hans Dickman (1712-1783), a prosperous merchant and ship owner who contributed to the city's maritime trade.

Other notable figures include Friedrich Dickman (1779-1841), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits, and Johann Dickman (1816-1892), a renowned architect who designed several prominent buildings in the city of Berlin.

As the Dickman surname spread beyond its original region, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Diekman, Dykman, and Dieckmann, reflecting regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dickman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dickman 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. Middlesex leads with 68 Dickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 68 1.54x
Northumberland 53 8.04x
Wiltshire 33 8.43x
Lancashire 27 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 26 4.36x
Durham 25 1.90x
Gloucestershire 24 2.76x
Yorkshire 21 0.48x
Roxburghshire 20 24.93x
Leicestershire 19 3.87x
Hampshire 15 1.65x
Midlothian 15 2.53x
Berwickshire 13 24.24x
Surrey 13 0.60x
Suffolk 12 2.22x
Derbyshire 9 1.30x
Cumberland 8 2.10x
Denbighshire 7 4.18x
Glamorgan 7 0.91x
Ayrshire 6 1.81x
Cheshire 6 0.61x
Northamptonshire 6 1.44x
Hertfordshire 5 1.64x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.49x
Selkirkshire 4 9.98x
Kent 3 0.20x
Essex 2 0.23x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Peeblesshire 1 4.80x
Rutland 1 3.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pewsey in Wiltshire leads with 27 Dickmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 937.50x.

Place Total Index
Pewsey 27 937.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 16 46.85x
St Marylebone London 14 5.92x
Minchinhampton 11 158.96x
Stroud 11 65.09x
Bermondsey 10 7.59x
Jedburgh 10 127.23x
Bethnal Green London 9 4.68x
Everton 9 5.37x
Owthorpe 9 4500.00x
Alnwick 8 70.61x
Dunse 8 157.17x
Andover 7 81.59x
Brightside Bierlow 7 8.13x
Burton 7 648.15x
Castleford 7 43.80x
Great Glenn 7 538.46x
Islington London 7 1.63x
Mile End Old Town London 7 7.43x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 7 331.75x
Nottingham St Mary 7 4.53x
Southwick 7 56.09x
Bedlington 6 27.27x
Edinburgh Old Church 6 126.05x
Elswick 6 11.41x
Kettering 6 35.61x
Kilmarnock 6 15.21x
Lambley 6 491.80x
Little Blakenham 6 2307.69x
Coldingham 5 103.73x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 33.07x
St George In East London 5 12.00x
Staveley 5 40.62x
Berkhampstead 4 58.31x
Birkenhead 4 5.13x
Bramshill 4 1904.76x
Chelsea London 4 3.00x
Collingbourne Kingston 4 377.36x
Crowle 4 92.81x
Derby St Peter 4 18.12x
Galashiels 4 27.01x
Harby 4 444.44x
Horton 4 307.69x
Leckwith 4 220.99x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.34x
Liverpool 4 1.25x
Minto 4 606.06x
Poplar London 4 4.79x
Salford 4 2.59x
West Rainton 4 98.04x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 7.34x
Basford 3 10.91x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.65x
Ealing 3 7.58x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 21.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.26x
Embleton 3 212.77x
Great Lumley 3 132.74x
Hackney London 3 1.21x
Hetton Le Hole 3 17.96x
Kirkdale 3 3.39x
Llandaff 3 11.70x
Smailholm 3 441.18x
Westgate 3 7.35x
Beadnell 2 408.16x
Billingham 2 88.11x
Byker 2 6.14x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 16.25x
Embleton 2 377.36x
Kensington London 2 0.81x
Mile End New Town London 2 22.86x
Openshaw 2 8.13x
Sherburn 2 49.88x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.87x
Stathern 2 243.90x
Stonehouse 2 40.49x
Torpenhow Whitrigg 2 476.19x
Walton On Hill 2 7.02x
West Newton Allonby 2 150.38x
Manchester 1 0.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 15
Jane 11
Emily 9
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Margaret 8
Alice 7
Hannah 7
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Harriett 5
Isabella 5
Agnes 4
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Avis 2
Betsy 2
E. 2
Eleanor 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Ellanor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Euphemia 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaretha 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 23
James 14
Thomas 12
George 11
Henry 11
Robert 10
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Albert 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Tom 2
Adolphus 1
Bartley 1
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Christian 1
Colin 1
Ebenezer 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Marshall 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
W. 1

FAQ

Dickman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dickman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Dickman surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dickman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016. That gives Dickman a modern rank of #7,719.

What does the Dickman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a man who performed ditching or diking work.

What does the Dickman map show?

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