Find out how popular the last name Dice is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dice.

Dice, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dice surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dice in America

Dice is the 9587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dice surname appeared 3,391 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dice.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dice to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Dice

The surname DICE is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English word "dic," which means a ditch or dike. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a ditch or a dike, and were identified by their proximity to this geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DICE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1199, where it appears as "de Diche." This entry indicates that the name was initially spelled with a "ch" sound, which later evolved into the modern spelling of "DICE."

In the 13th century, the surname DICE appeared in various forms, such as "de la Diche" and "atte Diche," reflecting the common practice of using prepositions to indicate a person's association with a particular place or location.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a certain William de la Diche, suggesting that the name was well-established in England by that time.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname DICE was Sir Ralph Dice (c. 1380 - c. 1440), a prominent English soldier and landowner who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. He is mentioned in several historical records, including the Inquisitions Post Mortem, which document his land holdings and military service.

Another individual of note was John Dice (c. 1550 - 1628), an English Puritan minister and author, known for his work "The Doctrine of Persecution Unmasked" (1615), which criticized religious persecution and advocated for religious tolerance.

In the 17th century, the surname DICE appeared in various parishes across England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Thomas Dice (c. 1620 - 1688), a English landowner and magistrate from Oxfordshire.

During the 18th century, the surname DICE was found in various parts of England, including London and the surrounding counties. One notable figure was William Dice (1717 - 1797), a successful merchant and ship owner from the port town of Whitby, Yorkshire.

In the 19th century, the surname DICE continued to be well-represented in various parts of England, with notable individuals such as John Dice (1787 - 1865), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Birmingham, who played a significant role in the development of the city's metalworking industry.

Throughout its history, the surname DICE has been associated with various occupations and social classes, from soldiers and landowners to merchants, industrialists, and clergymen. While its origins can be traced back to a locational descriptor, the name has since taken on a broader significance and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dice

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dice.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dice was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dice has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Dice was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dice, please contact us.

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