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

Dilks, 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 Dilks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dilks in America

Dilks is the 20792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dilks surname appeared 1,270 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Dilks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dilks 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 Dilks

The surname Dilks originates from England and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dell," meaning a small valley or hollow, and the suffix "-ock," a diminutive form indicating a small or young person. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a small valley.

Early records show variations in spelling, such as Dylks, Dylkes, and Dillocks. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a John Dilks as a taxpayer.

The Dilks surname is primarily associated with the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England. Some historical records indicate that the family may have originated in the village of Dilke, near Preesall, Lancashire.

In the 16th century, the Dilks name appears in parish records from various areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, a Thomas Dilks was baptized in Drighlington, Yorkshire, in 1588, and a William Dilks married Elizabeth Rayner in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1613.

One notable person with the Dilks surname was Sir Thomas Dilks (1628-1697), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 17th century.

Another significant figure was John Dilks (1733-1795), a renowned clockmaker from Wigan, Lancashire, whose clocks are highly prized by collectors today.

In the 19th century, the Dilks family spread across various parts of England and beyond. For example, James Dilks (1811-1890) was a prominent Methodist minister who served in various circuits in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Susannah Dilks (1853-1932), born in Settle, Yorkshire, was a notable educator and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and founded several schools in the United States.

Robert Dilks (1888-1962), born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, was a respected editor and literary critic who worked for various publishing houses and authored several books on English literature.

While the Dilks surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, craftsmen, religious leaders, educators, and literary figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dilks

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

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

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

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