DICK
The surname Dick is a patronymic name of English and Scottish origin, derived from the medieval given name Richard. Its etymology reflects the Old Germanic roots of the personal name: ric, meaning “power”, and -hard, meaning “brave” or “strong”. Consequently, the literal sense of Richard is “brave ruler” or “powerful leader”. As a pet form in the Middle Ages this personal name evolved into the surname Dick, signalling a descendant of an ancestor named Richard.
Historical records show the earliest use of the personal name Richard in England in the eighth century, with the name rising to prominence following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Its popularity was further amplified by the deeds of Richard I of England, the “Lionheart”, whose exploits during the Crusades secured the name’s renown. The nickname Dick appears in contemporary documents as early as 1220, when a Dicke Smith is mentioned in the Curia Rolls of Lancashire. In 1286, the name appears in the Assize Court Rolls of Cheshire as Dik de Hyde. Subsequent records in the fifteenth century include William Dik of Gloucester (1356), William Dykes of Norfolk (1362), and William Dyckk, rector of Godwick, Norfolk (1420). The earliest securely dated spelling of the family name is Richard Dic, recorded in the rolls of Colchester, Essex, around 1250 during the reign of King Henry I.
Geographically, the surname is common in both England and Scotland and also occurs occasionally in Ireland. In Scotland, the Gaelic context is relevant: many bearers of the name are of Celtic descent, yet the name itself originates from the Anglo‑Norman Richard rather than a Gaelic source. The surname has nevertheless become integrated into the linguistic traditions of the British Isles.
Notable individuals bearing the surname include Sir Alexander Dick of Edinburgh (1703–1785), an eminent physician, and Sir Robert Dick, who led his troops at the battle of Sobraon in India during the Sikh War of 1846.
Typical given names associated with the Dick surname
Male
- Alan
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jean
- Jennifer
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Dicks
- Dix
- Dixon
- Dickson
- Dicke
- Dickes
- Dickie
- Dickey
- Dicey
- Richard
- Dic
- Dicki
- Dicko
- Dica
- Dickow
- Dicksee
- Dickses
- Dicksey
- Dicky
- Dicu
- Dik
- Dika
- Dike
- Dikes
- Dikie
- Diko
- Diks
- Dilk
- Dilke
- Dilks
- Duyck
- Dyck
- Dycka
- Dycke
- Dyk
- Dyke
- Diack
- Dickies
- Dicksn
- Dikey
- Dikki
- Dikko
- Diksa
- Dilkes
- Dique
- Dixe
- Dyckes
- Dyks
- Duck
- Tagg
- Tagoe
- Tague
- Tighe
- Tuke
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Dick in...
Braille
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Morse
-....-.-.-.-
Semaphore
There are approximately 8,676 people named Dick in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,091st most common surname in Britain. Around 133 in a million people in Britain are named Dick.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Dick
- Cressida Dick - Police officer
- Timothy Alan Dick - American actor
- Philip K. Dick - American author (1928 to 1982)
- Derek William Dick - Scottish singer, lyricist and occasional actor
- Andy Dick - American comedian and actor
- Bryan Dick - Actor
- Nigel Dick - Musician and film director
- William Reid Dick - Scottish sculptor (1879 to 1961)
- John Dick - Scottish football player (1930 to 2000)
- Liam Dick - Football player
- Ally Dick - Scottish football player
- Thomas Dick - Astronomer (1774 to 1857)
- Andrew Dick - Football player
- John Dick - Scottish football player and manager (1877 to 1932)
- Thomas Dick - Gymnast (1880 to 1938)
- James Dick-Cunyngham - Army general (1877 to 1935)
- Robert Dick - Cricketer for Yorkshire (1889 to 1983)
- Robert Henry Dick - Scottish soldier (1787 to 1846)
- Thomas Dick - New Zealand politician (1823 to 1900)
- Bruce Dick - Rugby union player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.