Dikenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The rich and ancient history of the Dikenson family name dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from the personal name Richard. Dicca (in the modern form, Dick) is a diminutive of the name Richard. When the son suffix is added to the root, the name literally means son of Richard. 1 "Richard was commonly called Dick, and his sons, were styled 'Dickson' and 'Dickieson.' " 2

Early Origins of the Dikenson family

The surname Dikenson was first found in Lancashire at Wrightington, a township, in the parish of Eccleston, union of Wigan, hundred of Leyland. "Robert Dicconson, of Eccleston, married Anne, daughter of John Wrightington, and was grandfather of William, who was convicted of high treason in the reign of William III. The Dicconsons held the property until 1812, when Capt. Edward Dicconson died without issue, and was succeeded by a nephew, Thomas Eccleston, of Eccleston and Scarisbrick. His son Charles, on succeeding to this estate, assumed the name of Dicconson." 3

Welsh Whitte, again in Lancashire was another estate of the same family. It was originally known as Walsewythull and Walshwittell. "In 1707 it was forfeited by the treason of William Dickenson, then owner, but, owing to legal technicality, the manor was not seized by the crown; and the Dicconsons, his descendants, have since been the principal proprietors." 3

Early History of the Dikenson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dikenson research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1366, 1388, 1594, 1624, 1659, 1663, 1670, 1696, 1700, 1707, 1712, 1713, 1717, 1719, 1722, 1741, 1752 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Dikenson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dikenson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Dikenson have been found, including Dickieson, Dickinson, Dickeson, Dickenson and others.

Early Notables of the Dikenson family

Notables of the family at this time include John Dickenson (fl. 1594), English romance-writer of unknown origin. 4 Jonathan Dickinson (1663-1722) was a Quaker merchant from Port Royal, Jamaica who was shipwrecked on the southeast coast of Florida in 1696, along with his family and the other passengers and crew members of the ship. He twice served as Mayor of Philadelphia, in 1712-1713 and 1717-1719. His journal was reprinted sixteen times in English, and three times each in Dutch and German translations, between...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dikenson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dikenson family to Ireland

Some of the Dikenson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dikenson family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Dikenson, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were : Nathaniel Dickerson who was a Town clerk of Wethersfield, Massachusetts, and Philemon Dickinson who was a tanner of Salem, also in the same state. In 1642 Thomas Dickieson moved to New Haven, Connecticut. John Dickeson landed in Virginia in 1669. One branch of the family sailed to Barbados. By 1852 Edward Dickenson had moved as far west as San Francisco Cal..

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print