Show ContentsDyckenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Dyckenson 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 Dyckenson family

The surname Dyckenson 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 Dyckenson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dyckenson 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 Dyckenson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dyckenson Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Dyckenson were recorded, including Dickieson, Dickinson, Dickeson, Dickenson and others.

Early Notables of the Dyckenson 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 Dyckenson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dyckenson family to Ireland

Some of the Dyckenson 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 Dyckenson family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Dyckenson family emigrate to North America: 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..



  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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