Dickey
An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a ditch or dike digger or builder.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 27,112 Americans carry the last name Dickey. That puts it at #1,542 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.91 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,642 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dickey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
27K
1 in 12,642
Census rank
#1,542
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
23K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 23,320 bearers of the surname Dickey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.91 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1542nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dickey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.7%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dickey
The surname Dickey has its origins in England and Scotland, where it emerged as a diminutive form of the personal name Richard. The name is derived from the Old German "Richard," which means "brave ruler." It is believed to have been introduced to Britain by the Normans after their conquest in 1066.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195 as "Dicki." This spelling variation reflects the common practice of transforming the ending of a name to create a diminutive or nickname.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Dickey surname was found in various parts of England and Scotland. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, a person named William Dyke was recorded. This spelling variation highlights the diverse forms the name took over time.
The Dickey surname has a rich history, with several notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples is John Dickey, a Scottish minister born in 1670 who served as the first moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
Another prominent figure was James Dickey, an American poet and novelist born in 1923 and died in 1997, renowned for his work "Deliverance." James Dickey's literary contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
In the realm of sports, Glenn Dickey, an American sportswriter and columnist born in 1928, made a significant impact. He covered various sporting events, including the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Athletics, for several decades.
The Dickey surname has also been associated with place names, such as Dickey County in North Dakota, which was named after James Dickey, a prominent local politician in the late 19th century.
Another notable individual was Adam Dickey, an American politician and lawyer born in 1776, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee from 1833 to 1837.
While the origins of the Dickey surname can be traced back to England and Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dickey
Among Census respondents with the surname Dickey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.7%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Dickey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Dickey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.7%
- Black or African American13.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dickey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,388 | #1,542 | -11.1% |
| Count | 23,401 | 23,320 | -0.3% |
| Per 100K | 8.67 | 7.91 | -8.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dickey bearers went from 23,401 to 23,320 (-0.3% change). The surname moved down 154 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,388 to #1,542.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dickey
FAQ
Dickey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dickey?
The surname Dickey holds position #1,542 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 27,112 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.91 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dickey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dickey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.7%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.