Dykes (surname)
Encyclopedia
Dykes is a British
surname
which may originate from the hamlet of Dykesfield in Burgh-by-Sands, Cumbria
in the north of England
. Due to its close proximity to the English
and Scottish
borders, the surname Dykes has also been found in Scottish lowlands throughout the ages.
The first family to bear the surname (for which written records survive) are said to have lived in the area prior to William the Conqueror's Norman Conquest of England, with the oldest surviving written document placing them in Dykesfield at the end of the reign of Henry III
. The family took their surname from Hadrian's Wall
, also referred to in some texts as Hadrian's Dyke. The great wall crossed Great Britain
from the mouth of the Tyne
to the Solway Firth
and forms part of the border for Dykesfield.
At this early period of history, however, the surname existed in a different form from the modern day; del Dykes, literally meaning 'of the Dykes', indicating the region from where the family came. A charter, bearing the first known recorded instance of the surname, comes from either the reign of Henry III
or Edward I
, though the exact date of the record is unknown. It does, however, reveal that land owned by one Robert del Dykes at Burgh was conveyed to one William del Monkys.
An alternative derivation for the name is that it is from the common personal name "Dick" (a diminutive of "Richard"). It would therefore share its origin with a number of similar names such as Dike, Dicks, Dix, Dickson, Dixon, Dickins, Dickens and Dickinson.
The earliest historical records are from a family which was moderately wealthy for the time. Robert del Dykes owned land during the reign of Edward I, and in 1379, during the reign of Richard II
, Adam del Dykes owned land further east in Yorkshire
.
Another family member bearing the name William del Dykes is noted as having represented the Earl of Cumberland
in the English Parliament during the reign of Henry VI
. More is known about this William than those who had previously bore the surname. Records indicate that he married Elizabeth, the daughter of William de Leigh, Lord of the Manor of High Leigh. The de Leigh family claimed descent from Adeliza, Countess of Aumale, the half-sister of William the Conqueror, and Charlemagne
's eldest son Charles, who is usually considered childless. William del Dykes is also known to have received the manor and lands at Wardhall, Cumbria (also referred to as Warthole Hall http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/732.html and Wardale), subsequent generations would come to use the land but would later move to Dovenby Hall
in Cumbria.
By the 17th century it appears that majority of those bearing the surname del Dykes had dropped the prefix of 'del' and had begun simply using the surname Dykes, as it is most commonly found today. Thomas Dykes is one such family member who was responsible for the formation of the family motto and symbol used by the majority of his descendants and others bearing the surname. Thomas, a Royalist
at the time of the English Civil War
during the reign of Charles I
, secreted himself at Wardhall after the defeat of his party at the Battle of Marston Moor
. Thomas is reputed to have hid in many areas of his land, including in a mulberry tree, which stands to this day. It was all in vain, however, has he was soon captured by the Parliamentarians
and imprisoned at Cockermouth Castle
. Thomas was offered his freedom and the restoration of his property if he would become a traitor to his King by joining the Parliamentarians, but responded with Prius frangitur quam flectitur - Sooner broken than bent. Thomas died at Cockermouth Castle and, such was the strength of the story, the family adopted Prius frangitur quam flectitur as the family motto, and the mulberry tree as the family symbol.
While the surname had changed from del Dykes to Dykes by the 17th century further changes can be charted and, Dykes aside, other incarnations include Dawkes, Dyke, Dikes and Dike, though instances of the surname del Dykes can still be found.
It is still most common in the northern counties of the United Kingdom
, particularly in Lancashire
and Cheshire
. Areas such as Liverpool
and Warrington
are some of the most populous to this day, records show that members of the family moved to these areas as early as the 18th century.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the surname can also be found in most parts of the Commonwealth
and other former British Empire
nations including Australia
, the United States
, Canada
, New Zealand
and Ireland
(particularly Co. Sligo).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
which may originate from the hamlet of Dykesfield in Burgh-by-Sands, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Due to its close proximity to the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
borders, the surname Dykes has also been found in Scottish lowlands throughout the ages.
The first family to bear the surname (for which written records survive) are said to have lived in the area prior to William the Conqueror's Norman Conquest of England, with the oldest surviving written document placing them in Dykesfield at the end of the reign of Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. The family took their surname from Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
, also referred to in some texts as Hadrian's Dyke. The great wall crossed Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
from the mouth of the Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
to the Solway Firth
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
and forms part of the border for Dykesfield.
At this early period of history, however, the surname existed in a different form from the modern day; del Dykes, literally meaning 'of the Dykes', indicating the region from where the family came. A charter, bearing the first known recorded instance of the surname, comes from either the reign of Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
or Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, though the exact date of the record is unknown. It does, however, reveal that land owned by one Robert del Dykes at Burgh was conveyed to one William del Monkys.
An alternative derivation for the name is that it is from the common personal name "Dick" (a diminutive of "Richard"). It would therefore share its origin with a number of similar names such as Dike, Dicks, Dix, Dickson, Dixon, Dickins, Dickens and Dickinson.
The earliest historical records are from a family which was moderately wealthy for the time. Robert del Dykes owned land during the reign of Edward I, and in 1379, during the reign of Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
, Adam del Dykes owned land further east in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Another family member bearing the name William del Dykes is noted as having represented the Earl of Cumberland
Earl of Cumberland
The title of Earl of Cumberland was created in the Peerage of England in 1525 for the 11th Baron de Clifford. It became extinct in 1643. See also Duke of Cumberland.The subsidiary title of the first three earls was Baron de Clifford...
in the English Parliament during the reign of Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. More is known about this William than those who had previously bore the surname. Records indicate that he married Elizabeth, the daughter of William de Leigh, Lord of the Manor of High Leigh. The de Leigh family claimed descent from Adeliza, Countess of Aumale, the half-sister of William the Conqueror, and Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
's eldest son Charles, who is usually considered childless. William del Dykes is also known to have received the manor and lands at Wardhall, Cumbria (also referred to as Warthole Hall http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/732.html and Wardale), subsequent generations would come to use the land but would later move to Dovenby Hall
Dovenby Hall
Dovenby Hall is a Grade II listed country house in Dovenby, about north-west of Cockermouth, Cumbria, England. The estate totals .- History :...
in Cumbria.
By the 17th century it appears that majority of those bearing the surname del Dykes had dropped the prefix of 'del' and had begun simply using the surname Dykes, as it is most commonly found today. Thomas Dykes is one such family member who was responsible for the formation of the family motto and symbol used by the majority of his descendants and others bearing the surname. Thomas, a Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
at the time of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
during the reign of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, secreted himself at Wardhall after the defeat of his party at the Battle of Marston Moor
Battle of Marston Moor
The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on 2 July 1644, during the First English Civil War of 1642–1646. The combined forces of the Scottish Covenanters under the Earl of Leven and the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester defeated the Royalists commanded by Prince...
. Thomas is reputed to have hid in many areas of his land, including in a mulberry tree, which stands to this day. It was all in vain, however, has he was soon captured by the Parliamentarians
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and imprisoned at Cockermouth Castle
Cockermouth
-History:The Romans created a fort at Derventio, now the adjoining village of Papcastle, to protect the river crossing, which had become located on a major route for troops heading towards Hadrian's Wall....
. Thomas was offered his freedom and the restoration of his property if he would become a traitor to his King by joining the Parliamentarians, but responded with Prius frangitur quam flectitur - Sooner broken than bent. Thomas died at Cockermouth Castle and, such was the strength of the story, the family adopted Prius frangitur quam flectitur as the family motto, and the mulberry tree as the family symbol.
While the surname had changed from del Dykes to Dykes by the 17th century further changes can be charted and, Dykes aside, other incarnations include Dawkes, Dyke, Dikes and Dike, though instances of the surname del Dykes can still be found.
It is still most common in the northern counties of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, particularly in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. Areas such as Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
are some of the most populous to this day, records show that members of the family moved to these areas as early as the 18th century.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the surname can also be found in most parts of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
and other former British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
nations including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(particularly Co. Sligo).
Bearers of the surname
- Adam DykesAdam DykesAdam Dykes is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He has previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks and Hull...
(born 1977), Australian rugby league footballer - Andrew Dykes (rugby union)Andrew Dykes (rugby union)Andrew Dykes was a Scottish international rugby union player.He was capped once for in 1932. He also played for Glasgow Academicals RFC.His brother Jimmy was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
, Scottish rugby union player - Andrew Dykes (cricketer) (born 1971), Australian cricketer
- Bill DykesBill DykesBill Dykes is an American gospel music singer.The son of a Baptist preacher, Dykes became his father's music director at age 12 because there was no one else to serve and he was willing to do it...
(born 1946) American gospel music singer - Darren DykesDarren DykesDaren Dykes is an English footballer. He played professionally as an attacking midfielder for Swindon Town and Lincoln City and currently plays for Newport Pagnell Town as a centre-forward.-Early career:...
(born 1981), English footballer - D. L. Dykes, Jr.D. L. Dykes, Jr.David Leroy "D.L." Dykes, Jr. , was the senior pastor from 1955-1984 of the large First United Methodist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana...
(1917 - 1997), Amerian Methodist pastor and broadcaster - Donald DykesDonald DykesDonald Ray Dykes is a former professional American football player who played cornerback for four seasons for the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers. He also played in the United States Football League. He is currently an assistant football coach at the University of Arkansas in...
(born 1955), American football player - Doyle DykesDoyle DykesDoyle Dykes is an American country acoustic guitarist from Jacksonville, Florida. He is influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians such as Chet Atkins, the Allman Brothers, to the Beatles and U2...
, American country acoustic guitarist - Eva Beatrice DykesEva Beatrice DykesEva Beatrice Dykes was the first black American woman to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree, and the third to be awarded a PhD.-Early life and education:...
(1893-1986), first black American woman to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree - Gavin DykesGavin DykesGavin Dykes was a defensive footballer who played for numerous League of Ireland clubs, including Sligo Rovers, Finn Harps and Derry City. In 1994 he captained Sligo to an FAI Cup win.He also managed Harps and Derry ....
(born 1967), Irish footballer - Hart Lee DykesHart Lee DykesHart Lee Dykes is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for two seasons for the New England Patriots. He was awarded the Dial Award as the national high school scholar-athlete of the year in 1984...
(born 1966), American football player - Hollie DykesHollie DykesHollie Johnston Dykes is a retired Australian gymnast who was born in Gold Coast, Queensland and began gymnastics at the age of four and a half. She started training at the Australian Institute of Sport in 1998 and was awarded a full scholarship there in 2000...
(born 1990), Australian gymnast - Hugh Dykes, Baron DykesHugh Dykes, Baron DykesHugh John Maxwell Dykes, Baron Dykes, born 17 May 1939 to Richard and Doreen Dykes is a British politician. He is a Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.-Education:...
(born 1939), British politician - James Oswald DykesJames Oswald DykesJames Oswald Dykes was a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman and educator].James Oswald Dykes studied at Dumfries Academy and at the universities of Edinburgh, Heidelberg, and Erlangen. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1859. From 1861 to 1864 he served with Dr. Candlish of Free St....
(1835 - 1912), Scottish Presbyterian clergyman - Jimmy DykesJimmy DykesJames Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
(1896 – 1976), American baseball player - Jimmy Dykes (footballer)Jimmy Dykes (footballer)James "Jimmy" Dykes is a Scottish former association football player, who played for Heart of Midlothian and appeared twice for the Scotland national football team in 1938...
, (born 1916), Scottish association football player - Jimmy Dykes (rugby union)Jimmy Dykes (rugby union)James "Jimmy" Dykes was a Scottish international rugby union player.He was capped twenty times for between 1922-29. He also played for Glasgow Academicals RFC.His brother Andrew was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
, Scottish rugby union player - Jimmy Dykes (sportscaster) (born 1961), American basketball sportscaster
- John DykesJohn DykesJohn Dykes is an international sports broadcaster, especially well known in Asia after working for almost a decade as host of ESPN STAR Sports' coverage of the Premier League and European football.- Biography :...
(born 1964), British sports broadcaster - John Bacchus DykesJohn Bacchus DykesJohn Bacchus Dykes was an English clergyman and hymnist.-Biography:...
(1823 – 1876), English clergyman and hymn composer - Keilen DykesKeilen DykesKeilen Lee Dykes is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals, he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia.-Early years:...
(born 1984), American football player - Loren DykesLoren DykesLoren Dykes is a footballer who plays for the Welsh national team and Bristol Academy. Dykes plays as a winger or forward and has accumulated more than twenty caps for Wales.-Club career:...
(born 1988), Welsh footballer - Omar Kent DykesOmar Kent DykesOmar Kent Dykes is an American blues guitarist and singer, living in Austin, Texas. In 1973 he formed the band, Omar & the Howlers. The band plays electric Texas blues, rock and roll and blues-rock...
(born 1950), American blues guitarist and singer - Ross DykesRoss DykesRoss Alexander Dykes was a New Zealand cricketer who played 31 first-class matches for the Auckland Aces in the Plunket Shield between 1967 and 1977, scoring 723 runs.-References:...
(born 1945), New Zealand cricketer - Sonny DykesSonny DykesSonny Dykes is an American football coach and former college baseball player. He is currently the head football coach at the Louisiana Tech University, a position he has held since 2010. Dykes has served as offensive coordinator under Mike Stoops, Mike Leach and Hal Mumme...
(born 1969), American football coach - Spike DykesSpike Dykes-External links:***...
(born 1938), American football coach - Brigadier Vivian DykesVivian DykesBrigadier Vivian Dykes , was the Director of Plans, War Office between 1939 and 1941 and became the first Chief Combined Secretary British Joint Staff Mission Washington in 1942. He was described as being 'at the heart of allied military policy making'...
(1898 - 1943), British soldier