Show ContentsDikey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Dikey

What does the name Dikey mean?

Dikey comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the name Dick, which is a diminutive of Richard. 1

Early Origins of the Dikey family

The surname Dikey was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland.

Early records of the family are very rare, so we must look to the 16th century for the first few entries: "Robert Dikky is recorded in Glasgow in 1504. Money was given 'Sir' Archibald Dikkie, 'for rowelling and gyding of the knok and for lying nychtlie in the tolbuth to rewll and keip the samyne and for helping and support of him to bed clais,' 1583. David Dickie was burgess of Montrose in 1627. " 2

Early History of the Dikey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dikey research. Another 274 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1627, 1775, 1798, 1812, 1830, 1839, 1849, 1860, 1877, 1882 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dikey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dikey Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years Dikey has appeared as Dickie, Dickey, Dikkie and others.

Early Notables of the Dikey family

Dr. George Dickie (1812-1882), Scottish botanist, born at Aberdeen 23 Nov. 1812, was educated at Marischal College in that city, where he graduated A.M. in 1830, and prosecuted the study of medicine in the universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh. From 1839 he lectured on botany for ten years in King's College, Aberdeen, and in that university for shorter periods on...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dikey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dikey family to Ireland

Some of the Dikey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 176 words (13 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 Dikey family

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dikey or a variant listed above: In 1650 Daniel Dickey settled in Virginia. Other members of the family made their homes in Amherst, New York and Nova Scotia, Canada. They were classified as Colonial Gentry. Later, the name was to be found in New England in 1718.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. 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)


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