Show ContentsDickwearde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Dickwearde

What does the name Dickwearde mean?

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Dickwearde is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the settlement of Duckworth in the county of Lancashire. 1 The surname Dickwearde belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Dickwearde family

The surname Dickwearde was first found in Cambridgeshire where one of the earliest records is of Hugo de Duckworth in 1216 who was listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus (p. 587) and his descendant Sire John Duckworth was summoned to a great council of Westminster in 1324. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Henricus de Dukeworth and Johannes Dukeworth as holding lands there at that time. 1

Early History of the Dickwearde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dickwearde research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1310, 1379, 1647, 1648 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Dickwearde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dickwearde Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Dickwearde has been spelled many different ways, including Duckworth, Dykeward, Duckword, Duckward, Duckwort, Duckwart, Dickworth, Dickward, Dickword and many more.

Early Notables of the Dickwearde family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dickwearde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dickwearde family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Dickweardes to arrive in North America: J. Duckworth who settled in New Orleans in 1823; J. Duckworth settled in New York in 1823; H. Duckworth settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1852.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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