Show ContentsDixon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Dixon Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Dixon

What does the name Dixon mean?

The name Dixon originated among the descendants of the ancient Pictish clans. It is derived from son of Dick which is a derivative of the personal name Richard. 1

Early Origins of the Dixon family

The surname Dixon 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 Dixon family

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

Dixon Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Dixon include Dixon, Dickson, Dixoun, Dikson, Dyxson, Dyckson, Dicksoun, Dicson and many more.

Early Notables of the Dixon family

  • John Dixon (d. 1715), was an English miniature and crayon painter, a pupil of Sir Peter Lely, was appointed by William III 'keeper of the king's picture closet,' and in 1698 was concerned in a bubble...
  • Robert Dixon (d. 1688), was a Royalist divine educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1635 and M.A. in 1638. 4
  • Thomas Dixon (1680?-1729), was a nonconformist tutor, probably the son of Thomas Dixon, 'Anglus e Northumbria,' who graduated M.A. at Edinburgh on 19 July 1660, and was ejected from the vicarage of Ke...

Dixon World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Dixon is the 102nd most popular surname with an estimated 47,055 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Dixon is ranked the 141st most popular surname with an estimated 20,028 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Dixon is the 167th popular surname with an estimated 3,141 people with that name. 7 Canada ranks Dixon as 332nd with 13,638 people. 8 The United States ranks Dixon as 139th with 164,142 people. 9

Migration of the Dixon family to Ireland

Some of the Dixon 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.

Dixon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. James Dixon, (b. 1763), aged 26, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
  • Mr. Peter Dixon, (Catna), (b. 1749), aged 40, British settler convicted in Reading, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
Second Fleet
  • Miss Ann Dixon, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. John Dixon, British settler convicted in Northumberland, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. John Dixon, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Lincolnshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Joseph Dixon, (d. 1792), British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Joseph Dixon, British settler convicted in Essex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Dixon, (b. 1764), aged 23, English settler convicted in Durham, Durham on 21st July 1785, sentenced for 7 years for stealing animals, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Miss Mary Dixon, (b. 1746), aged 41, English settler convicted in London on 31st May 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Dixon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Dixon migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dixon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Edward Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Joseph Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Michael Dixon, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Michael Dixon, aged 30, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dixon migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15
Dixon Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Alice Dixon, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16
  • Humphry Dixon, aged 26, who arrived in Jamaica in 1683 17

Dixon migration to Canada +

Dixon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Dixon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Mary Dixon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • John Dixon, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Ann Dixon, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Joseph Dixon U.E. (b. 1750) who settled in Hampton, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1842 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dixon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Dixon, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Mrs. Matilda Dixon, aged 37 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Superior" departing from the port of Londonderry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in October 1847 19
  • Miss. Ellen Dixon, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Allan Kerr" departing 23rd June 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 4th August 1847 but she died on board 20
  • Mr. William Dixon, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing 3rd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th June 1847 but he died on board 20

Dixon migration to the United States +



Dixon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Dixon, who settled in Virginia in 1606
  • Mr. Richard Dixon, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 21
  • Adam Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1612 aboard the ship "Margaret & John" 17
  • Ann Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1622 17
  • Steven Dixon, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dixon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hugh Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1701 17
  • Anne Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1701 17
  • Margaret Dixon, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 17
  • Robert Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1704 17
  • Thomas Dixon, who landed in Virginia in 1714 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dixon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Johnston Dixon, who landed in New York in 1803 17
  • Mary Ann Dixon, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 17
  • Joanna Dixon, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 17
  • Henry Dixon, aged 37, who landed in New York in 1812 17
  • Catherine Dixon, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dixon (post 1700) +

  • Dougal Dixon (b. 1947), Scottish geologist and author
  • Currie Dixon (b. 1985), Canadian politician, Premier of Yukon (2025-), Leader of the Yukon Party since 2020, the first premier born in the territory
  • Brian James Dixon (1936-2025), Australian rules footballer and politician
  • Alice Lillian Dixon (1907-2016), née Ellis, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Mr. Mark Robert Stuart Dixon M.B.E., appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Children and to Young People in Hampshire 22
  • Peter John Dixon (1944-2023), England international rugby union player for England (1971-1978)
  • George Dixon (1870-1908), Canadian professional boxer, first ever black athlete to win a world championship in any sport, the first Canadian-born boxing champion, inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955, the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1956 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a first-class inductee in 1990
  • Medina Dixon (1962-2021), American basketball player born in Boston, Massachusetts, member of the United States women's national basketball team during the late 1980s and the early 1990s, three-time medalist
  • Roscoe Dixon (1949-2021), American politician, Member of the Tennessee Senate (1994-2005)
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Thomas D Dixon (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Sequatchie, Tennessee, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 23
  • Mr. Arthur Henry Dixon, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 24
  • Mr. Harold Dixon (d. 1914), British Bedroom Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 25
  • Miss Polly Dixon (d. 1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Alex Dixon, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 26
  • ... (Another 14 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Dixon Motto +

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.

Suggested Readings for the name Dixon +

  • Downeast Dicksons: 42 Lines of Early New England Settlers and All the Descendants, as of 1987, of Captain Talbot Dickson and Susan Hayland of Harrington, Maine by Katharine Dickson.
  • The Descendants of James A. Dickson (Also Dixon), ca.1820-1864, Tennessee and Texas: Allied Families, Coleman, Fulbright, Harkey, Nall, Tippen by Roy Shelton Dickson.
  • The Descendants of Nicholas Dixon: As They Are Discovered, Updated Periodically by Joel Dixon Wells.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  16. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  18. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  19. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 24)
  20. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 73)
  21. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  22. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  23. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  24. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  25. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  26. Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg

Houseofnames.com on Facebook