Dixon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The name Dixon originated among the descendants of the ancient Pictish clans. It is derived from son of Dick which is a derivative of the personal name Richard. 1

Early Origins of the Dixon family

The surname Dixon was first found in Kirkcudbrightshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt), part of the present day Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, former county in Southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat from early times. They were descended from the ancient Pictish Clan Keith, and the first Dickson was son of Richard Keith, son of the great Marischal of Scotland, who died in 1249, and Margaret daughter of the third Lord Douglas. Hence the Clan has always claimed to be followers of the Douglas Clan.

"In Scotland it has been variously written at different periods, as Dicson, Dykson, Dikson, Diksoun, Diksoune, Dixson, and Dickson. They are descended from one Richard Keith, said to be a son of the family of Keith, earls-marshal of Scotland, and in proof thereof they carry in their anna the chief of Keith Mareschal. This Richard was commonly called Dick, and his sons, with the carelessess of that age, were styled 'Dickson.'" 2

This was a "Border surname. Thom or Thomas Dicson was the faithful follower of the Douglas in the surprise and capture of Castle Douglas on Palm Sunday, 1307. William Dicsoun witnessed a charter by John Skinner, burgess of Inverness, c. 1360, and William Dicson or Dicsoun appears as bailie of Aberdeen in 1398. Andrew Dicsoun held a land in Edinburgh, 1400, Henry Dikson, Scotsman, had a safe conduct into England in 1426 and William Dicson, Scotsman, had the same in 1445, and James Dekyson or Dekysoun was rector of Kirknutho, 1472, and prebendary of Guthre, 1474." 3

Early History of the Dixon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dixon research. Another 379 words (27 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1457, 1471, 1472, 1473, 1479, 1481, 1488, 1505, 1513, 1515, 1527, 1567, 1583, 1606, 1607, 1616, 1617, 1630, 1635, 1638, 1647, 1660, 1663, 1666, 1680, 1688, 1695, 1698, 1702, 1712, 1715, 1721, 1724, 1729, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dixon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dixon Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Dixon include Dixon, Dickson, Dixoun, Dikson, Dyxson, Dyckson, Dicksoun, Dicson and many more.

Early Notables of the Dixon family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

John Dixon (d. 1715), was an English miniature and crayon painter, a pupil of Sir Peter Lely, was appointed by William III 'keeper of the king's picture closet,' and in 1698 was concerned in a bubble...
Robert Dixon (d. 1688), was a Royalist divine educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1635 and M.A. in 1638. 4
Thomas Dixon (1680?-1729), was a nonconformist tutor, probably the son of Thomas Dixon, 'Anglus e Northumbria,' who graduated M.A. at Edinburgh on 19 July 1660, and was ejected from the vicarage of Ke...

Dixon World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dixon is the 139^th most popular surname with an estimated 164,142 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Dixon is ranked the 332^nd most popular surname with an estimated 13,638 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Dixon is the 141^st popular surname with an estimated 20,028 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Dixon as 167^th with 3,141 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Dixon as 102^nd with 47,055 people. 9

Migration of the Dixon family to Ireland

Some of the Dixon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 154 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dixon migration to the United States +

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as Clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Dixon:

Dixon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Dixon, who settled in Virginia in 1606
Mr. Richard Dixon, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 10
Adam Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1612 aboard the ship "Margaret & John" 11
Ann Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1622 11
Steven Dixon, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1701 11
Anne Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1701 11
Margaret Dixon, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 11
Robert Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1704 11
Thomas Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1714 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Johnston Dixon, who landed in New York in 1803 11
Joanna Dixon, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 11
Mary Ann Dixon, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 11
Henry Dixon, aged 37, who landed in New York in 1812 11
Catherine Dixon, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dixon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Dixon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Ann Dixon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Dixon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mary Dixon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Joseph Dixon U.E. (b. 1750) who settled in Hampton, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1842 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Dixon, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
Mrs. Matilda Dixon, aged 37 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Superior" departing from the port of Londonderry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in October 1847 13
Miss. Ellen Dixon, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Allan Kerr" departing 23rd June 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 4th August 1847 but she died on board 14
Mr. William Dixon, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing 3rd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th June 1847 but he died on board 14

Dixon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dixon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Dixon, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. William Dixon, British convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. John Dixon, English clerk who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. John Dixon, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. William Dixon, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dixon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Edward Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Joseph Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Michael Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Michael Dixon, aged 30, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Dixon Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Alice Dixon, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 20
Humphry Dixon, aged 26, who arrived in Jamaica in 1683 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Dixon (post 1700) +

Medina Dixon (1962-2021), American basketball player born in Boston, Massachusetts, member of the United States women's national basketball team during the late 1980s and the early 1990s, three-time medalist
Roscoe Dixon (1949-2021), American politician, Member of the Tennessee Senate (1994-2005)
Travell Dixon (b. 1991), American football safety who is currently a free agent
Larry Dixon (1942-2020), American politician, Member of the Alabama Senate (1984-2011)
Rickey Dixon (1966-2020), American professional football player, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
Alan John Dixon (1927-2014), American Democratic politician, United States Senator from Illinois (1981-1993), 34th Illinois Secretary of State (1977-1981), Illinois State Treasurer (1971-1977)
Antonio Dixon (b. 1985), American NFL football nose tackle
Abram Dixon (1787-1875), American lawyer and politician, New York State Senator (1840-1843)
Floyd Dixon (1929-2006), American rhythm and blues pianist and singer
Donna Dixon (b. 1957), American actress
... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dixon family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Thomas D Dixon (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Sequatchie, Tennessee, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 21

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Arthur Henry Dixon, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 22
Mr. Harold Dixon (d. 1914), British Bedroom Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 22
Miss Polly Dixon (d. 1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 23

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. Alex Dixon, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 24

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Herbert Dixon (1850-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 25

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Thomas Charles Dixon (1915-1941), Australian Leading Stoker from North Perth, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 26

HMS Dorsetshire

Henry Dixon (d. 1945), British Blacksmith 3rd Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 27

HMS Hood

Mr. William Dixon (b. 1919), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Forest Hill, Northumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 28
Mr. Albert Dixon (b. 1902), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Leeds, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 28

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Francis Dixon, British Telegraphist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 29
Mr. Christopher A Dixon, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 29

HMS Repulse

Mr. Bruce Edward Dixon, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 30

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Alfred Dixon, American 3rd Class passenger from El Paso, Texas, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31
Mr. Arthur Dixon, English 2nd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31
Master Stanley Dixon, English 2nd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31
Mrs. Bertha Dixon, English 2nd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 31

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. Richard Dixon (b. 1874), English mine worker from Durham residing in Coalville, Summit, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 32

The Dixon 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: Fortes Fortuna Juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the Bold.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 24)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 73)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html