DICKERSON
Origin of the surname Dickerson is firmly rooted in the British Isles, specifically England. It arises in the English language and is traditionally associated with Christian families. The name is patronymic, signifying descent from a person called Richard.
The given name Richard from which Dickerson evolves is recorded as meaning “brave ruler” or “powerful leader.” It derives ultimately from the rare Anglo‑Saxon name Ricehard, meaning “rule‑hard,” which was later adopted in Old German as Ricohard. The Norman influence brought the name to England, where it was Latinised as Ricard in the Domesday Book of 1086 and subsequently evolved into the softer French form Richard. Various diminutives – Rich, Rick, Dick, Hick, Dickie, Richie – were employed, with the patronymic suffix *‑son* giving rise to surnames such as Dickerson, Dickinson, and Dickenson.
The earliest documentary evidence of the name appears in the mid‑14th century, specifically in the register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1388 where an individual called John Dykonesson is recorded. Further early references include a 1366 Subsidy Roll of Lancashire that names William Dykounson, and an entry in 1629 documenting the marriage of Dorithy Dickerson to William Sheapheard at St. Giles Cripplegate in London. The christening of Barbare, daughter of Peter Dickerson, was noted on 26 September 1657 at St. Olave, Southwark, London.
The name Dickerson carries a suite of spelling variants that have been observed over the centuries, including Dickenson, Dickinson, Dickeson, Dickison and Dickason, reflecting the historical fluidity of orthography. Through these documented occurrences the surname has been transmitted from one generation to the next, maintaining its distinct identity within English heraldry and onomastic tradition.
Typical given names associated with the Dickerson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Simon
Female
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Laura
- Mary
- Maureen
- Pamela
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Shirley
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Dickerson in...
Braille
⠙⠊⠉⠅⠑⠗⠎⠕⠝
Morse
-....-.-.-.-..-....----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,315 people named Dickerson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,725th most common surname in Britain. Around 36 in a million people in Britain are named Dickerson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
