Surname Dickison - Meaning and Origin

Dickison: What does the surname Dickison mean?

The last name Dickison is an English or Scottish patronymic surname. It is derived from the personal name “Dicke,” which is a shortened form of Richard. The addition of the suffix “-son” indicates that the name is a patronymic, and means “son of Dicke.” It is likely that the progenitor of the Dickison families was a son of Richard.

The surname Dickison is found primarily in England, where it is most common in the counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. It was also commonly found in Scotland, where records indicate that it was borne by several families scattered throughout the country.

The first known recording of the Dickison surname was in 1379. It belonged to Johannes Dikyson, who appeared in the Pleas of the County of York. Subsequent records include Thomas Dickison, who was listed in 1549 in the Register of the University of Glasgow, and James Dickison, who married Janet Gray on February 25, 1712 in Newbattle, Midlothian, Scotland.

Today, the surname is still quite common across England and Scotland. It is also scattered across other areas of the world, although on a much smaller scale.

Dickison: Where does the name Dickison come from?

The last name Dickison is most commonly found in the United States today. Though its origins are unclear, the surname is thought to be of Scottish or English derivation. However, it may also derive from the name of the Dickson family, which is an old Normano-Scottish name.

Dickison is one of the most widespread surnames in the United States. According to publicly available data, the last name can be found in at least 21 states across the country. These include states where the surname is most common, such as Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma, and states where it is less common, such as Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Virginia.

The family name is also found in other countries with large Scottish diasporas, such as Canada and Australia, but not quite as commonly as in the United States.

Overall, the most likely country of origin for the surname Dickison is either Scotland or England, and was probably brought over to the US when members of Dickison family immigrated in the 18th or 19th centuries. Today, however, Dickison appears to be most common in the United States.

Variations of the surname Dickison

​Dickison is an English patronymic surname of Anglo-Saxon origins, meaning “Son of Dic” or “Son of Richard”. This surname has undergone various spelling changes over the centuries and is common in the United States, specifically in border states such as Texas and New Mexico. Some variants of Dickison include Dickson, Dixson, Dixon, Dixen, and Dixin.

Surnames stemming from the same origin as Dickison include Dixon, Dickenson, Dickman, Dickson, Dickins, and Dickinson. Variants stemming from these can include Dixson, Dixen, Dixin, and Diksen. The added letters are a result of the adoption of phonetic spellings. For example, the -son spelling ending is common for patronymic names in England, and the -en ending is a common French adaptation.

Many of these surnames still exist in various locations throughout the United States and England and in many other countries. They are likely to have different derivations depending on which region they are from. Some may have Old English roots or Germanic roots, while some may trace their origin to the Middle English or other dialects.

These days, the spelling of Dickison as a surname is becoming more common, as it is the most direct of the variations that have arisen over time. It is possible that in a few more generations, the changes previously seen on the spelling of this surname could become less frequent or may become phased out altogether.

Famous people with the name Dickison

• Buddy Dickison: professional American football player who played defensive back for the Norfolk Nighthawks.
• Larry Dickison: former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1964 to 1966 for the Washington Senators.
• Todd Dickison: American composer, songwriter, orchestrator, and music producer.
• Phil Dickison: American professional wrestler and trainer best known by his ring name “The Immortal” Dick Murdoch.
• Matthew Dickison: retired American professional basketball player who spent 11 seasons in the NBA.
• Ben Dickison: American country music artist, writer, and performer signed to Curb Records.
• Rebecca Dickison: British-New Zealand fantasy and science fiction novelist and editor.
• Leslie Dickison: American professional basketball coach and lecturer who has experience in the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA level.
• Kelly Dickison: English pop singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor.
• Dawn Dickison: English former professional competitive figure skater who competed in the ladies' single discipline.

Other surnames

Dickis