| ![Show Contents]() Dicson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Dicson family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The name Dicson is derived from son of Dick which is a derivative of the personal name Richard. 1 Early Origins of the Dicson familyThe surname Dicson 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 Dicson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dicson 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 Dicson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Dicson Spelling VariationsThe appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Dicson has been spelled Dixon, Dickson, Dixoun, Dikson, Dyxson, Dyckson, Dicksoun, Dicson and many more. Early Notables of the Dicson familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was David Dickson or Dick (1583-1663), Scottish theologian, born in Glasgow. He "was the only son of John Dick or Dickson, a wealthy merchant in the Trongate of Glasgow, whose father was an old feuar of some lands called the Kirk of Muir, in the parish of St. Ninians, Stirlingshire. He was born in Glasgow about 1583, and educated at the university, where he graduated M.A., and was appointed one of the regents or professors of philosophy." 4John Dixon (d. 1715), was an English miniature...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dicson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Dicson family to Ireland
Some of the Dicson 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. Migration of the Dicson familyThe expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Dicson: Joan Dickson who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Stephen Dickson settled in Virginia in 1619; one year before the "Mayflower"; William Dickson settled in Maryland in 1719.
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.
- 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
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