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Dimock History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dimock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Today's generation of the Dimock family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Dimock family lived in Gloucestershire. The name is derived from the local of Dymock, a village in this county.

Dymock was the home of the Dymock poets (1911 to 1914) that included Robert Frost, Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, and John Drinkwater. The homes of Robert Frost and Wilfrid Wilson Gibson can still be seen there today. It is thought that the family first lived at Knight's Green, an area just outside of the village of Dymock. A reference in 1848 listed the village as having 1776 inhabitants, but today there are fewer than 300. 1

Early Origins of the Dimock family

The surname Dimock was first found in Gloucestershire where the village and parish of Dymock dates back to before the Norman Conquest. According to the Domesday Book, Dymock was held by King Edward at that time and was part of the Botloe hundred. It goes on to mention that King William held it in demesne for 4 years and after that, Earl William held it followed by his son Roger. It was sizable as there was land there for 41 ploughs and a priest held another 12 acres at the time. 2

Today the village comprises over 7,000 acres. The name Dymock was possibly derived from the Celtic word "din" which meant "fort" 3

Another reference claims that name was derived from the Saxon words "dim" for dark, + "ac" for oak, in other words "dark oak." 1 Remains can still be seen of an ancient hall in Howell, Lincolnshire, the seat of the Dymoke family at one time. 1

One of the first on record was Roger Dymock (fl. 1395), an early English theologian who studied at Oxford, and there proceeded to the degree of doctor in divinity. 4

Sir John Dymoke (d. 1381), was the Kng's Champion, or Champion of England, "whose functions were confined to the performance of certain ceremonial duties at coronations, is stated to have been the son of John Dymoke, by his wife, Felicia Harevill. The family has been variously traced to the village of the name in Gloucestershire and to the Welsh borders near Herefordshire. The importance of Sir John and of his descendants was due to his marriage with Margaret (b. 1325), daughter of Thomas de Ludlow (b. 1300). " 4

Early History of the Dimock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dimock research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1381, 1428, 1469, 1471, 1500, 1531, 1546, 1566 and 1580 are included under the topic Early Dimock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dimock Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Dimock were recorded, including Dymoke, Dymock, Dimock, Dimoke and others.

Early Notables of the Dimock family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Dymoke (died 1381), held the manor of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire; Margaret Dymoke (ca.1500-?), of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII of England; Sir Edward Dymoke, of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire (d. 1566), Hereditary King's Champion; Robert Dymoke, Dymock or Dymocke, of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire (1531-1580), Queen's Champion of England; and Sir...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dimock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dimock migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Dimock arrived in North America very early:

Dimock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Martin Dimock, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 5

Dimock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Dimock, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 5

Dimock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eliza Dimock, aged 25, who settled in America from Leighton, in 1893
Dimock, aged 30, who immigrated to America, in 1894
Florence Dimock, aged 6, who landed in America, in 1895
Eliozabeth R. Dimock, aged 13, who landed in America, in 1895
Harold E Dimock, aged 11, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dimock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

W O Dimock, who landed in Arkansas in 1900 5
George Dimock, aged 53, who settled in America, in 1905
E. J. Dimock, who landed in America, in 1907
Susan Dimock, aged 56, who landed in America, in 1907
Walter Dimock, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dimock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dimock Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Daniel Dimock, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
Shubael Dimock, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Daniel Dimock, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1761

Contemporary Notables of the name Dimock (post 1700) +

Susan Dimock M.D. (1847-1875), American medical pioneer, eponym of the Dimock Community Health Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Edith Dimock (1876-1955), American painter
Edward Jordan Dimock (1890-1986), United States federal judge
Henry F. Dimock (1842-1911), American lawyer, a Yale graduate he was closely associated with the Whitney family business interests
Shubael Dimock (1753-1834), American-born, Canadian politician in Nova Scotia who represented Newport township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1793 to 1799 and from 1826 to 1830
Davis Dimock Jr. (1801-1842), American politician, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Origen Dimock, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Willington, 1835; Member of Connecticut State Senate 20th District, 1851-52 6
Davis Dimock Jr. (1801-1842), American Democratic Party politician, Susquehanna County Treasurer, 1834; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 17th District, 1841-42 6
Brown Dimock, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Otsego County 2nd District, 1856 6
Barbara D. Dimock, American Republican politician, Member of Alaska territorial House of Representatives 3rd District, 1953-54 6
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Dimock Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pro Rege et lege Dimico
Motto Translation: Fight for King and Law.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html