This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. —the son of Richard.' from the nick. Dick, which ran a severe race for popularity with Hick (which see), and finally monopolized the public favour. With Dixon and Dix, compare Rixon and Rix of the same parentage. Nix and Nixon are also parallel cases.

William Dycks: Visit, of Yorks (1563).

William Dix, ibid.

Thomas Dykkes, rector of Bodney, Norfolk, 1431: History of Norfolk.

William Dykk, rector of Godwick, 1420: ibid.

Willelmus Dycson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Rogerus Dikson, 1379: ibid.

1557. Baptised — John Dyxonne, St. Peter, Cornhill.

1569-70. William Dixsonne and Judith Madewell: Marriage Lic. (London).

1668. Married — Robert Dickes and Elizabeth Sanders: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1669. — Edward Biges and Mary Dicke: ibid.

This is the English form of Scottish Dickson, which see.

Alan Richert, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder in 1526 (RSS., I, 3386). Thomas Rechard, 1561 (CMN., 80). As forename: Richart Strathern, 1462. An Old English personal name meaning "powerfully rich" (rice + h(e)ard).

Dick’s (Son), Dick’s Son, Dick, a diminutive of Richard, q.v.

(German, English) The large or fat man; descendant of Dick, a pet form of Richard (rule, hard).

is Dick's son, that is Richard's son. "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." It is probable that he was the son of the great Marshal, Hervey de Keth, (ob. 1249,) by his wife Margaret, daughter of William, third lord Douglas." Dixon on Surnames. Boston, IT. S., 1857. The Irish Dixons came from Scotland, in a clan, in the reign of Henry VIII. In 1617, if not earlier, they bore the arms of the English Dixons, which goes far to prove community of origin for the Dixons, Dicksons, &c., of the three kingdoms. The oldest spelling in Ireland is Dykesone. Inf. Sir Erasmus Dixon Borrowes, Bart. The great baron of Malpas, co. Chester, William Belward, had two sons, David and Richard. The latter's third son, Richard, surnamed Little, on account of his diminutive size, had two sons, the younger of whom was John, who received the surname of Richardson (Filius Ricardi) from his father'a Chriatian name. It has been conjectured that some of the Dixons of the North of England, who trace their pedigree to the county of Chester, may be descendants of that John Richardson, alias Dick's son.

This baptismal name, besides becoming itself a surname, has given rise to many others; viz., Richards, Richardson, Rich, Ritchie, Riches, Rick, Ricks, Rix, Rickson, Rixon, Ritson, Rickards, Rieket, Ricketts. From Dick and Hitchin, two ' nurse-names ' of Richard, we also derive Dix, Dicks, Dickson, Dixon, Digons, Dickens, Dickins, Dickinson, Dickerson, Dickison; and Hitchins, Hitchinson, Hitchcock, Hitchcox.

(Saxon.) Of a powerful, rich, or generous disposition, from ric, rich, and ard, nature or disposition.

From the Frisian, Diko, Dyko, Diken, Dyken, Dikena; from the German, Dix, Dieck, Dicke; from the Dutch, Diek, Dieker, Dikkers, Dikken; a personal name.

Dixon.-Very frequent in the English counties on the Scottish border. It is fairly represented in the midland counties and in the south - east of England, but is rare in the south - west counties. Dickenson is also a north - country name. Dickson, the Scottish form of the name, characterises central and southern Scotland.