NameCensus.

UK surname

Dicks

An English surname derived from the given name Richard or Dick, a diminutive form of Richard.

In the 1881 census there were 1,457 people recorded with the Dicks surname, ranking it #2,859 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,851, ranked #3,429, down from #2,859 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Caerphilly and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dicks is 2,138 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

1,457

Ranked #2,859

Modern count

1,851

2016, ranked #3,429

Peak year

1999

2,138 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dicks had 1,457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,859 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,851 in 2016, ranked #3,429.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,125 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dicks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dicks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dicks 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 894 #3,076
1861 historical 930 #2,985
1881 historical 1,457 #2,859
1891 historical 1,819 #2,527
1901 historical 2,037 #2,628
1911 historical 2,125 #2,362
1997 modern 2,084 #2,947
1998 modern 2,124 #3,009
1999 modern 2,138 #3,016
2000 modern 2,132 #3,004
2001 modern 2,089 #2,999
2002 modern 2,114 #3,030
2003 modern 2,032 #3,075
2004 modern 2,017 #3,094
2005 modern 1,951 #3,157
2006 modern 1,919 #3,204
2007 modern 1,909 #3,245
2008 modern 1,932 #3,224
2009 modern 1,940 #3,296
2010 modern 1,968 #3,316
2011 modern 1,944 #3,321
2012 modern 1,841 #3,421
2013 modern 1,885 #3,400
2014 modern 1,882 #3,425
2015 modern 1,867 #3,415
2016 modern 1,851 #3,429

Geography

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Where Dicks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, St Pancras 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 Swansea, Caerphilly and East Northamptonshire. 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 Trowbridge Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 013 Swansea
2 Caerphilly 013 Caerphilly
3 Swansea 011 Swansea
4 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
5 Swansea 015 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dicks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dicks

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dicks is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dicks 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

Dicks falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dicks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dicks

The surname Dicks originated in England in the medieval period, derived from the nickname "Dick", a diminutive form of the given name Richard. The name Richard came from the Germanic elements "ric" (ruler) and "hard" (brave, hardy). The use of diminutive nicknames like Dick was a common practice in medieval times.

The earliest known record of the surname Dicks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Dik". The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled in the 13th century, documenting individuals who held land and their feudal obligations.

In the 14th century, the name is recorded in various spellings, including "Dyk", "Dyke", and "Dycke", in tax rolls and court records from counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. These variations likely reflect regional dialect differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Dycke, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1384. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, detailing tax assessments and payments.

Several place names in England, such as Dickleburgh in Norfolk and Dickens Heath in Solihull, are believed to have derived from the surname Dicks or its variants, reflecting the influence of early bearers of the name in those areas.

Notable historical figures with the surname Dicks include Sir Michael Dicks (1570-1628), a prominent English merchant and member of the Honourable Artillery Company in London. Another was Thomas Dicks (1628-1695), an English Baptist minister and author who published several religious works during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, John Dicks (1720-1801) was a renowned English printer and publisher, known for producing affordable editions of literary works for the working class. His son, Robert Dicks (1765-1846), continued the family publishing business and was also a respected bookseller in London.

William Dicks (1815-1887) was a prominent English educator and author, serving as the headmaster of the South London Grammar School and writing several textbooks on subjects like mathematics and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dicks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dicks 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 231 Dicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 231 1.62x
Wiltshire 189 14.98x
Northamptonshire 167 12.45x
Somerset 127 5.53x
Surrey 88 1.27x
Gloucestershire 66 2.36x
Hampshire 60 2.05x
Warwickshire 55 1.53x
Glamorgan 45 1.81x
Lancashire 40 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 38 1.98x
Kent 37 0.76x
Leicestershire 35 2.21x
Essex 34 1.21x
Sussex 32 1.33x
Carmarthenshire 18 2.99x
Buckinghamshire 17 1.97x
Devon 17 0.57x
Worcestershire 17 0.91x
Monmouthshire 15 1.45x
Norfolk 15 0.68x
Brecknockshire 14 4.91x
Durham 14 0.33x
Derbyshire 11 0.49x
Staffordshire 11 0.23x
Yorkshire 10 0.07x
Berkshire 8 0.75x
Hertfordshire 8 0.81x
Dorset 7 0.75x
Oxfordshire 7 0.79x
Suffolk 5 0.29x
Angus 4 0.30x
Cheshire 4 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.41x
Channel Islands 2 0.47x
Royal Navy 2 1.18x
Shropshire 2 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.22x
Stirlingshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 49 Dicks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.14x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 49 16.14x
Trowbridge 41 73.54x
Burton Latimer 32 395.06x
St Pancras London 28 2.44x
Birmingham 26 2.17x
Ringstead 26 557.94x
Aston 23 2.32x
Curland 23 2527.47x
Leicester St Margaret 22 5.71x
North Bradley 21 228.01x
Alverstoke 19 17.96x
Heytesbury 19 413.04x
Lambeth 19 1.53x
Basford 18 20.32x
Idmiston 18 638.30x
Cheltenham 16 7.41x
Egham 16 37.51x
Conwil Cayo 14 144.78x
Islington London 14 1.01x
Romford 14 31.46x
Wellingborough 14 20.76x
West Ham 14 2.25x
Battersea 13 2.48x
Bromley London 13 4.14x
Rochester St Margaret 13 25.34x
Stockton On Tees 13 6.36x
Floore 12 238.57x
Frome 12 21.85x
Gloucester St Nicholas 12 92.66x
Westbury 12 40.76x
Derby St Werburgh 11 8.53x
Hackney London 11 1.38x
Hastings St Mary 11 18.38x
Kensington London 11 1.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 4.81x
Bexhill 10 83.47x
Bradford On Avon 10 24.76x
Chilton Candover 10 1351.35x
Clase 10 10.83x
Edmonton 10 8.70x
Nottingham St Mary 10 2.01x
Camberwell 9 0.99x
Hammersmith London 9 2.56x
Llangattock 9 38.74x
Lonbridge Deverill 9 203.16x
Oundle 9 60.00x
Bedminster 8 3.71x
Belgrave 8 22.42x
Bickenhall 8 919.54x
Buckland St Mary 8 269.36x
Fisherton Anger 8 34.28x
Kettering 8 14.74x
Llantrisant 8 12.78x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 8 40.69x
Pilton 8 1333.33x
Barrington 7 343.14x
Cardiff St Mary 7 5.12x
Freshford 7 353.54x
Greenwich 7 3.08x
Heigham 7 5.95x
Horningsham 7 176.32x
Liverpool 7 0.68x
Lydney 7 48.48x
Michelmersh 7 123.46x
Newton Toney 7 429.45x
Northampton All Sts 7 15.38x
Norton 7 351.76x
Roath 7 6.21x
Rotherhithe 7 3.97x
Shoreditch London 7 1.13x
St Marylebone London 7 0.92x
Warminster 7 25.33x
Wolverhampton 7 1.89x
Yeovil 7 15.01x
Ashill 6 262.01x
Aston Somerville 6 1090.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 2.28x
Bulwell 6 14.36x
Cheetham 6 4.75x
Paddington London 6 1.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 75
William 74
George 57
James 52
Henry 48
Thomas 35
Charles 33
Edward 21
Frederick 18
Joseph 16
Albert 15
Arthur 14
Alfred 13
Frank 11
Ernest 10
Daniel 9
Samuel 9
Walter 9
Fred 8
Isaac 8
Francis 7
Herbert 7
David 6
Robert 6
Harry 5
Job 5
Abdon 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Worthy 4
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Elijah 3
Geo. 3
Levi 3
Percy 3
Reuben 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
F. 2
H. 2
Horace 2
Jacob 2
Jno. 2
Matthew 2
Nelson 2

FAQ

Dicks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dicks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,457 people were recorded with the Dicks surname. That placed it at #2,859 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dicks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,851 in 2016. That gives Dicks a modern rank of #3,429.

What does the Dicks surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name Richard or Dick, a diminutive form of Richard.

What does the Dicks map show?

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