NameCensus.

UK surname

Dykes

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a dike or earthen embankment.

In the 1881 census there were 2,062 people recorded with the Dykes surname, ranking it #2,135 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,066, ranked #2,200, down from #2,135 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newmilns, Herefordshire and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dykes is 3,087 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

2,062

Ranked #2,135

Modern count

3,066

2016, ranked #2,200

Peak year

2014

3,087 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dykes had 2,062 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,135 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,066 in 2016, ranked #2,200.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,694 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dykes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dykes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dykes 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 1,351 #2,128
1861 historical 1,507 #1,876
1881 historical 2,062 #2,135
1891 historical 2,309 #2,030
1901 historical 2,694 #2,057
1911 historical 2,142 #2,347
1997 modern 2,873 #2,244
1998 modern 3,031 #2,222
1999 modern 3,070 #2,204
2000 modern 3,030 #2,224
2001 modern 2,981 #2,212
2002 modern 3,013 #2,235
2003 modern 2,945 #2,230
2004 modern 2,936 #2,236
2005 modern 2,883 #2,250
2006 modern 2,881 #2,251
2007 modern 2,874 #2,283
2008 modern 2,914 #2,263
2009 modern 2,991 #2,253
2010 modern 3,057 #2,261
2011 modern 3,027 #2,248
2012 modern 2,978 #2,243
2013 modern 3,053 #2,227
2014 modern 3,087 #2,213
2015 modern 3,066 #2,205
2016 modern 3,066 #2,200

Geography

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Where Dykes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Loudoun. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newmilns, Herefordshire, Bridgend, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cheshire East. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Loudoun Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newmilns East Ayrshire
2 Herefordshire 004 Herefordshire, County of
3 Bridgend 010 Bridgend
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dykes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dykes

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

Dykes is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dykes falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dykes 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 Dykes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dykes

The surname Dykes is an English name that originated in the northern English counties of Durham and Northumberland. It is derived from the Old English word "dic," which means a dike or ditch, referring to someone who lived near a dike or ditch.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing variations such as "de Dik," "de Dyk," and "de Dyke." In the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, there is a reference to a person named "Gamel de Dik."

The Dykes surname is also found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This further solidifies the name's long-standing presence in England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dykes surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, which mentions a "William de la Dyke." Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, listing a "John atte Dyke."

Several notable individuals have borne the Dykes surname throughout history. One such figure was Jeremiah Dykes (1617-1692), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Wolverhampton and authored several religious works.

Another prominent Dykes was Sir Reginald Dykes Bower (1857-1944), a British Army officer and politician who served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Cleveland from 1910 to 1918.

In the realm of sports, there was John William Dykes (1888-1917), an English footballer who played as a forward for various clubs, including Manchester United and Middlesbrough, in the early 20th century.

The Dykes surname also has a connection to literature through the English writer and poet James Dykes Campbell (1835-1907), known for his works on Scottish history and literature.

Lastly, a more recent figure with the Dykes surname is Melissa Dykes (born 1987), an American journalist and researcher who has worked for various independent media outlets and is known for her investigative reporting on topics such as geopolitics and government corruption.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dykes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dykes 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. Lanarkshire leads with 306 Dykes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.71x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 306 4.71x
Lancashire 219 0.92x
Ayrshire 168 11.17x
Cheshire 166 3.74x
Middlesex 145 0.72x
Yorkshire 126 0.63x
Hampshire 88 2.14x
Staffordshire 75 1.11x
Renfrewshire 65 4.17x
Suffolk 65 2.66x
Essex 55 1.39x
Northumberland 51 1.71x
Surrey 51 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 43 1.59x
Midlothian 39 1.45x
Somerset 32 0.99x
Wiltshire 31 1.74x
Durham 29 0.49x
Warwickshire 26 0.51x
Herefordshire 24 2.91x
Cumberland 21 1.21x
Lincolnshire 21 0.65x
Glamorgan 19 0.54x
Kent 17 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 15 2.78x
Shropshire 14 0.81x
Northamptonshire 13 0.69x
Fife 12 1.01x
Gloucestershire 11 0.28x
Derbyshire 10 0.32x
Perthshire 10 1.11x
Berkshire 8 0.53x
Norfolk 8 0.26x
Sussex 8 0.24x
Argyllshire 7 1.25x
Dumfriesshire 7 1.58x
Stirlingshire 7 0.94x
Devon 6 0.14x
Dorset 6 0.45x
Hertfordshire 6 0.43x
West Lothian 6 1.98x
Anglesey 4 1.12x
Angus 3 0.16x
Banffshire 3 0.72x
Monmouthshire 3 0.21x
Worcestershire 3 0.11x
Berwickshire 2 0.82x
Buteshire 1 0.82x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Flintshire 1 0.19x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.34x
Roxburghshire 1 0.27x
Wigtownshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 55 Dykes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.

Place Total Index
Barony 55 3.34x
Govan 52 3.24x
Loudoun 52 143.77x
Avondale 47 123.68x
Warrington 38 13.44x
Old Monkland 33 12.80x
Andover 30 77.10x
Glasgow 30 2.60x
Hamilton 26 14.34x
St Pancras London 26 1.61x
Lambeth 24 1.37x
Tynemouth 24 14.99x
Buxhall 21 642.20x
Burslem 20 10.29x
Galston 20 48.63x
Liverpool 19 1.31x
Great Clifton 18 268.66x
Monks Coppenhall 18 10.75x
Nottingham St Mary 18 2.57x
Toxteth Park 18 2.23x
Bury 17 6.24x
Snenton 17 15.97x
Waltham Holy Cross 17 45.85x
West Ham 17 1.94x
Ayr 16 22.54x
Kilmarnock 16 8.94x
Aston 15 1.07x
Portsea 15 1.86x
Basingstoke 14 29.55x
Creech St Michael 14 173.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 1.29x
Morley 14 13.52x
Ealing 13 7.24x
Stapeley 13 314.01x
East Kilbride 12 43.12x
Madeley 12 70.96x
Runcorn 12 11.73x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.26x
Birmingham 11 0.65x
Bishopwearmouth 11 2.14x
Elton 11 13.35x
Glassford 11 109.78x
Kingswood 11 670.73x
Abbey 10 4.21x
Beyton 10 425.53x
Congleton 10 13.05x
Hackney London 10 0.89x
Kirkdale 10 2.49x
Lyneham 10 143.88x
Much Birch 10 275.48x
Much Woolton 10 30.90x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 6.45x
Nocton 10 232.02x
Paisley Middle Church 10 11.03x
St George Hanover Square 10 2.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 1.39x
Weston In Nantwich 10 280.11x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 9 113.35x
Carstairs 9 66.86x
Cathcart 9 10.68x
Dundonald 9 16.23x
Glencorse 9 87.04x
Hammersmith London 9 1.82x
Monkton Prestwick 9 61.48x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 9.36x
Paisley High Church 9 7.26x
Wolstanton 9 4.37x
Wolstanton Chatterly 9 129.12x
Buerton In Nantwich 8 246.91x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.69x
Cullercoates 8 85.11x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 8 176.60x
Fittleton 8 334.73x
Kensington London 8 0.72x
Leeds 8 0.71x
Lesmahagow 8 11.64x
Paddington London 8 1.08x
Wolstanton Knutton 8 19.31x
Woodthorpe 8 142.10x
Dalserf 7 10.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 90
John 70
Thomas 53
James 49
George 48
Joseph 31
Henry 28
Charles 20
Edward 18
Robert 17
Arthur 16
Alfred 15
Samuel 15
Albert 14
Harry 12
Richard 12
Frank 7
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Frederick 6
Ralph 6
Thos. 6
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Job 4
Stephen 4
Walter 4
Alexander 3
David 3
Edgar 3
Leonard 3
Robt. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Earnest 2
Elijah 2
Enoch 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Joel 2
Lawrence 2
Morris 2
Paul 2
Timothy 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Ellis 1

FAQ

Dykes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dykes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,062 people were recorded with the Dykes surname. That placed it at #2,135 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dykes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,066 in 2016. That gives Dykes a modern rank of #2,200.

What does the Dykes surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a dike or earthen embankment.

What does the Dykes map show?

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