NameCensus.

UK surname

Dimmick

Derived from a Middle English nickname meaning "dim" or "stupid," likely referring to someone considered foolish or ignorant.

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Dimmick surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 530, ranked #9,572, up from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lymington, Newchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Middlesbrough and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dimmick is 559 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.3%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

530

2016, ranked #9,572

Peak year

2011

559 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dimmick had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016, ranked #9,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 427 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dimmick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dimmick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dimmick 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 357 #10,280
1911 historical 427 #8,843
1997 modern 521 #9,026
1998 modern 519 #9,327
1999 modern 521 #9,362
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 527 #9,285
2003 modern 514 #9,299
2004 modern 509 #9,390
2005 modern 513 #9,276
2006 modern 523 #9,170
2007 modern 528 #9,174
2008 modern 542 #9,074
2009 modern 557 #9,081
2010 modern 557 #9,270
2011 modern 559 #9,139
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 538 #9,514
2014 modern 546 #9,446
2015 modern 543 #9,419
2016 modern 530 #9,572

Geography

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Where Dimmicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lymington, Newchurch, London parishes, Freshwater and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Middlesbrough, Reading, Gateshead and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Lymington Hampshire
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Freshwater Hampshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 010 County Durham
2 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
3 Reading 017 Reading
4 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
5 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dimmick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dimmick

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dimmick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dimmick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dimmick 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

Dimmick is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dimmick 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 Dimmick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dimmick

The surname Dimmick has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "dim" meaning "dim" or "dark" and "wic" meaning "dwelling" or "place". This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who lived in a dimly lit or shaded area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Dimmick dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it appeared as "Dymok". Over time, various spellings emerged, including Dimmock, Dymock, and Dimmick.

One notable historical reference to the name Dimmick can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dimmoc". This entry suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The Dimmick surname has been associated with several places in England, including Dimmock in Gloucestershire and Dimmock in Somerset. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "dimmoc", which means "a dim or dark place".

Several individuals with the surname Dimmick have left their mark on history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Robert Dimmick (c. 1290 - 1362), a prominent English landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable figure was William Dimmick (1516 - 1589), an English Protestant reformer and writer who played a significant role in the early days of the Church of England under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 18th century, John Dimmick (1720 - 1802) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor who contributed to the development of precision timekeeping devices.

During the 19th century, James Dimmick (1845 - 1918) was a respected American educator and author, known for his works on teaching methods and educational philosophy.

More recently, Mary Dimmick (1924 - 2003) was a celebrated American sculptor and artist whose works are displayed in numerous public spaces and museums across the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dimmick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dimmick 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. Hampshire leads with 166 Dimmicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.24x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 166 28.24x
Somerset 31 6.72x
Durham 15 1.76x
Surrey 14 1.00x
Middlesex 13 0.45x
Lancashire 9 0.26x
Westmorland 9 14.28x
Channel Islands 7 8.24x
Dorset 7 3.72x
Devon 4 0.67x
Kent 4 0.41x
Essex 3 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.78x
Buteshire 2 11.51x
Monmouthshire 2 0.96x
Lincolnshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 2.93x
Sussex 1 0.21x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Titchfield in Hampshire leads with 41 Dimmicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 925.51x.

Place Total Index
Titchfield 41 925.51x
Ryde 28 221.69x
Lymington 20 462.96x
Frome 15 135.87x
Iveston 14 356.23x
Freshwater 12 446.10x
Portsea 11 9.55x
Southampton St Mary 10 27.06x
Farington 9 454.55x
Butleigh 8 1052.63x
Christchurch 8 62.75x
Milford 8 465.12x
Undermilbeck 8 384.62x
Bridport 7 180.88x
Paddington London 7 6.64x
Chelsea London 6 6.94x
Lyndhurst 6 372.67x
Mickleham 5 632.91x
Brading 4 51.22x
Fareham 4 56.66x
Nunney 4 400.00x
St Helier 4 14.46x
Basford 3 16.84x
Clapham 3 8.37x
Martock 3 100.00x
Northwood 3 35.84x
Stonehouse East 3 99.01x
West Ham 3 2.40x
Bromley 2 13.41x
Camberwell 2 1.09x
Epsom 2 29.37x
Hordle 2 196.08x
Kilbride 2 93.46x
Lambeth 2 0.80x
Ringwood 2 53.19x
St Lawrence 2 86.21x
Aberystruth 1 5.47x
Alverstoke 1 4.70x
Applethwaite 1 53.19x
Birmingham 1 0.41x
Boldre 1 47.39x
Brighton 1 1.03x
Conside Knitsley 1 15.08x
Easton In Gordano 1 53.76x
Maidstone 1 3.43x
Millbrook 1 6.75x
Milton In Gravesend 1 6.82x
Newport 1 10.11x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.17x
Portchester 1 131.58x
Royal Navy 1 3.42x
South Stoneham 1 7.84x
St Owen 1 44.84x
Twyford 1 71.43x
Uffington 1 222.22x
Upham 1 156.25x
West Grimstead 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 9
Emma 9
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Eliza 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Ann 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
F. 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Margaret 2
Margrett 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annah 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
E.Mary 1
Ebth. 1
Elbth. 1
Elizbth. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Georgeina 1
Gertrude 1
Jemina 1
Jessy 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Loui 1
Lusia 1
Lydia 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 16
William 14
John 13
James 9
Henry 8
Walter 7
Thomas 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Charles 4
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
A. 1
Alexander 1
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.J. 1
Chas.Junr. 1
Daniel 1
Fredk.C.E. 1
Herbert 1
Hiram 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jim 1
Jonathon 1
Leonard 1
Maurice 1
Percy 1
Raymond 1
Saml.W.G. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Will 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Dimmick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dimmick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Dimmick surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dimmick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016. That gives Dimmick a modern rank of #9,572.

What does the Dimmick surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname meaning "dim" or "stupid," likely referring to someone considered foolish or ignorant.

What does the Dimmick map show?

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