This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of the dike or dikes,' i.e. banks, trenches.

Robert del Dykes, Cumberland, 31 Edward I. Calendarium Genealogicum: Henry III-Edward I.

Adam del Dike, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Nicholaus del Dyk, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

William del Dike, 2 Henry IV: Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland.

William del Dykes, 16 Richard II: ibid.

Macbeth of Dych, juror on an inquisition on the lands of Mefth in 1262 (Bain, I, 2323), derived his name from Dyke in Moray. Hugo de Dyke, witness c. 1299—1325 (REM., p. 148), Alexander Dike, witness in Glasgow, 1550 (Protocols, I), and Henricus Dik was part tenant in villa de Kynnedour, 1565 (REM., p. 437).

This surname is common in the shires of Ayr and Lanark, and is most probably derived from the lands of Dykes in the barony of Avondale or Strathaven. David Dykis was witness in Avondale in 1503 (Simon, 63), John Diykis was apprentice mason at Dunkeld in 1512 (Rent. Dunk., p. 123), Hercules Dykis was tenant of the Abbey and convent of Kelso in 1567 (Kelso, p. 525), Thomas Dykes is recorded at Jacktoun in the parish of Kilbryde, 1564 (Campsie), and Mr. Johne Dykis was minister to ye Kirk of Newbirne in 1606 (RD., p. 503). John Dykes and Andrew Dykes were burgesses of Perth in 1611 (Inquis., 4471; Inquis. Tut., 858), Mungo Dyks was liberated from the Canon gate Tolbooth of Edinburgh in 1682 (BOEC., VIII, p. 141), an allowance was made to Mr. Patrick Dykes for his Grammar, 1686 (RPC., 3. ser. XII, p. 456), and William Dyks was writer in Edirburgh in 1687 (RPC., 3. ser. XIII, p. 164). Adam de fossatis (= 'of the ditches') served on an inquisition in 1247 (Bain, I, 1716). Dickis and Dikis 1503.

(English) Dweller on, or near, a dike or embankment.

See Dykes. The baronets of Sussex and Kent sprang from the family of Dykes of Cumberland.

There is every reason to believe that this name is derived from no less an object than Hadrian's Roman Wall-the "Barrier of the Lower Isthmus." The family originated at Dykesfield, co. Cumberland, on the line of that celebrated defence. There is no doubt that the popularap-pellation of Hadrian's work was "the Dyke," or "the Dykes," just as "Graham's Dyke" was that of the more northern defence of Lollius Urbicus. See much interesting information on this subject in Dr. Bruce's "Roman Wall," edit. 1853, pp. 279, et seq., and Preface, p. ix. Dykesfield may have been so named either from the family, or immediately from the fact of the barrier's passing over the place. However this may be, the surname Dykes was borrowed from the wall itself, as appears from its earliest known form, which is not De Dykesfield, but Del Dykes, i. e. "of the Dykes." Robert Del Dykes, the first recorded individual of the family, is mentioned in a deed (without date, but known from internal evidence to be) of temp. Henry III., penes F. I. B. Dykes, Esq. Another ancient northern family of the same district-that of Thirlwall-also derive their appellation from the Roman Wall. See Thirlwall.

Local. A name given to one who lived near a ditch, bank, or entrenchment, as "John at the dyke."