Dick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
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Scotland
Ireland
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The chronicle of the name Dick begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived from the given name Richard. 1 Dick is a diminutive of this personal name.

One source explains the origin more clearly: "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 arms the chief of Keith Mareschal. This Richard was commonly called Dick, and his sons, with the carelessness of that age, were styled 'Dickson.' It is probable that he was the son of the great Marshal, Hervey de Keth, (ob. 1249,) by his wife Margaret, daughter of William, third lord Douglas." 2

Early Origins of the Dick family

The surname Dick was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area where William de Dyck was first magistrate of Edinburgh in 1296. John Dic, was a witness in Ayr, 1490, Wille Dic was 'dekin of the bakstaris' of Stirling in 1526. John Dyk or Dik was bailie of David, Earl of Craufurd in Perthshire in 1547 and Alexander Dik was archdean of Glasgow in 1555. 3

Some of the family were found in Northern England in later years. Yorkshire records for 1563 listed: William Dycks; and William Dix. 4 In Norfolk, Thomas Dykkes, was rector of Bodney, Norfolk in 1431, and William Dykk was rector of Godwick in 1420. 5

Early History of the Dick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dick research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1526, 1580, 1618, 1631, 1638, 1639, 1655, 1658, 1678, 1681, 1703, 1725, 1728, 1741, 1785 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dick Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Dick has been written Dick, Dyck, Dic and others.

Early Notables of the Dick family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Sir William Dick (1580?-1655), Provost of Edinburgh, the only son of John Dick, who held a large proprietor in the Orkneys, and who had acquired considerable wealth by trading with Denmark, and was a...
Sir Alexander Dick (1703-1785), was a Scottish physician, born in October 1703, the third son of Sir William Cunyngham of Caprington, bart., by Janet, only child and heiress of Sir James Dick of Prest...
Lady Anne Dick (d. 1741), was a verse writer and a daughter of a Scotch law lord, Sir James Mackenzie (Lord Royston), a son of George Mackenzie, first earl of Cromarty. The date of Anne's birth does n...

Dick World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dick is the 1,388^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Dick is ranked the 849^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,309 people with that name. 7 And in France, the name Dick is the 9,006^th popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 8 Australia ranks Dick as 930^th with 4,248 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Dick as 401^st with 1,636 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Dick as 943^rd with 7,365 people. 11

Migration of the Dick family to Ireland

Some of the Dick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dick migration to the United States +

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Dick:

Dick Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anthony Dick, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 12
Jervis Dick, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 12

Dick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Dieterich Dick, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 12
Nicolaus Dick, who landed in New York in 1709-1710 12
Paul Dick, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 12
Mathias Dick, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1736
Freidric Dick, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Dick, who arrived in America in 1802
Isabella Dick, aged 16, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 12
John Dick, who landed in America in 1803 12
Jane Dick, who arrived in America in 1805 12
James Dick, who landed in America in 1805 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dick Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alexander Robertson Dick, who settled in Nebraska in 1918

Dick migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dick Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Robert Dick, who settled in Heart's Content, Newfoundland in 1682 13

Dick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Dick, who settled in Quebec in 1775
Mr. James Dick U.E. born in New York, USA who settled in St. George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 14
Mrs. Jannet Dick U.E. born in New York, USA who settled in St. George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 she is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 14
Mr. John Dick U.E.(b. 1744) born in New York, USA who settled in St. George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1786 he served in the 74th Regiment, listed with Loyalists and Disbanded Soldier whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists, he die din 1839 14
Mary Dick, who settled in Bonavista in 1797

Dick Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elias Dick in Shoe Cove, Newfoundland in 1846 13
Robert Dick, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848

Dick migration to Australia +

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

Dick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dick, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
Mr. John Dick, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
Mr. James Dick, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
Ephriam Dick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1848 18
John Dick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1848 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dick 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:

Dick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

David Dick, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 19
Sarah Dick, aged 24, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 19
Robert Dick, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 19
John Dick, aged under 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 19
David Dick, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dick 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. 21

Dick Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John and Elizabeth Dick, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Dick (post 1700) +

Nancy E. Dick (b. 1930), American politician, 41st Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, Colorado's first female Lieutenant Governor (1979-1987)
Charlie Dick (1934-2015), American record promoter and widower of American country singer Patsy Cline
Paul Revere Dick (1938-2014), American musician, lead vocalist of Paul Revere and the Raiders
Michael James Dick (1946-1993), birth name of Michael Clarke, an American drummer for the 1960s rock group The Byrds
Kirby Bryan Dick (b. 1952), American Academy Award nominated film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor
Elisha Cullen Dick M.D. (1762-1825), American politician and physician, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia (1804-1805)
Andrew Roane "Andy" Dick (b. 1965), American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer
Philip Kendred Dick (1928-1982), American science fiction author
George Frederick Dick (1881-1967), American physician, who, along with wife Gladys, co-discovered the germ responsible for scarlet fever and co-developed a curing serum for it
Albert Blake Dick (1856-1934), American inventor and manufacturer, who invented the mimeograph, founder of the AB Dick Company in 1884
... (Another 45 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dick family +

Flight 191

D Dick (d. 1979), American passenger from Woodland Hills, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 22

RMS Lusitania

Miss Annie Dick, American 3rd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Vera Dick, (née Gillespie), aged 17, Canadian First Class passenger from Calgary, Alberta who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 3 24
Mr. Albert Adrian Dick, aged 31, Canadian First Class passenger from Calgary, Alberta who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 3 24

USS Arizona

Mr. Ralph R. Dick, American Gunner's Mate First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25

The Dick 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: At spes infracta
Motto Translation: Yet my hope is unbroken.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. 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
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"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
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BOLTON 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Bolton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html