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

Dickenson, 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 Dickenson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dickenson in America

Dickenson is the 7283rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dickenson surname appeared 4,575 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Dickenson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dickenson 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 Dickenson

The surname Dickenson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name Dick, which is a diminutive form of Richard. The suffix "-son" was commonly added to given names to denote "son of."

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Dickenson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a Robert Dikesone in Lincolnshire. This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

In the 14th century, the Dickenson surname appears in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which list a Johannes Diksonson. This record suggests the surname may have originated or been particularly prevalent in Yorkshire.

The Dickinson surname, a variant spelling, can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, a Thomas Dicun is recorded, which could be an early form of the surname.

One notable figure in history bearing the Dickenson surname was John Dickenson, an English clergyman born in 1576. He served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1619 until his death in 1633.

Another historical figure was Edmund Dickenson, a 17th-century English lawyer and author. He was born in 1624 and became a prominent writer on constitutional law and the rights of Parliament.

In the 18th century, John Dickenson, born in 1732, was a influential American politician and revolutionary leader. He played a significant role in the American Revolution and was known as the "Penman of the Revolution."

Another individual of note was Philemon Dickenson, born in 1788, who served as a Judge in New Jersey and was actively involved in the anti-slavery movement in the United States.

Lastly, Reverend Jeremiah Dickenson, born in 1753, was a Methodist preacher and missionary who helped establish several churches in Virginia and North Carolina during the late 18th century.

These historical figures and records demonstrate the widespread use and variations of the Dickenson surname throughout different regions and time periods, reflecting its English origins and patronymic roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dickenson

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

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 Dickenson 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 Dickenson 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 Dickenson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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