Dickson or, as is common in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, Dixon, is a

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, b ...

surname, traditionally

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

and thought to have originated upon the birth of the son of Richard Keith, son of Hervey de Keith, Earl Marischal of Scotland, and Margaret, daughter of the 3rd Lord of Douglas.

History

"Nisbet in his Heraldry (Edinburgh 1722) says 'The Dicksons are descendants from Richard Keith, said to be a son of the family of Keith, Earls Marischals of Scotland' and in proof thereof carry the chief of Keith Marischal. This Richard was commonly called Dick and the 'son' was styled after him. The affix of son in the Lowlands answering the prefix Mac in the Highlands." As a result, Clan Dickson is considered a

sept A sept () is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used both in Scotland and in Ireland, where it may be translated as Irish , meaning "progeny" or "seed", and may indicate the descendants of a person ...

Clan Keith Clan Keith is a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan, whose chief historically held the hereditary title of Marischal, then Great Marischal, then Earl Marischal of Scotland.Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family ...

. Richard Keith's son, Thomas, took the surname "Dickson" (in the earliest record spelled Dicson), meaning "Dick's son" or "Richard's son". Although long recognised as a Sept of Clan Keith through Thomas Dickson's paternal line, in July 2012 the Clan Douglas Society of North America also recognised the Dickson/Dixon name as a Sept and Allied Family to Clan Douglas. This recognition resulted from the direct connection through Thomas Dickson's mother, Margaret, daughter of William, the 3rd Lord Douglas and also Thomas' faithfulness to the Douglas Clan, notably to his second cousin William, 7th Lord Douglas and William's son the good Sir James, 8th Lord Douglas. Thomas Dickson (1247–1307) himself has quite a history. He was associated in some way with

William Wallace Sir William Wallace (, ; Norman French: ; 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of St ...

, and was killed by the English in 1307 in battle. Tradition states he was slashed across the abdomen but continued fight holding the abdominal wound closed with one hand until he finally dropped dead. He is buried in the churchyard of St Brides, Douglas, and his marker shows him with a sword in one hand holding his belly with the other. Robert the Bruce made him Castellan of Castle Douglas the year before he was killed. The Dicksons/Dixons (and 30 other derivates) family name was first found in Scotland whilst the Dixons in England who are of Scottish descent from Thomas Dickson living in 1268 are of the same origin as the Scottish Dicksons. Early records show Thomas Dicson, a follower of the Douglas clan, at the re-capture of

Douglas Castle Douglas Castle was a stronghold of the Douglas (later Douglas-Home) family from medieval times to the 20th century. The first castle, erected in the 13th century, was destroyed and replaced several times until the 18th century when a large man ...

in 1307. The Dickson's coat of arms show the Keith "pallets gules" and the Douglas "mullets argent", this is to show their descent from these two ancient Scottish noble families. The family mottoes include "Fortes fortuna juvat", "Coelum versus", for Dickson: translated as "Fortune favours the brave", Heavenward"; whilst "Quod dixi dixi" Dixon, is translated as "What I have said I have said".

References

Notable Dicksons

Performers and entertainers

Adrian Dickson Adrian Dickson (born 1977) is a South-African born British television and radio host. He began his career after graduating from a university degree course in broadcast journalism. His first television appearances were for CBBC on BBC Televisio ...

(born 1977), British broadcaster *

Barbara Dickson Barbara Ruth Dickson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish singer and actress whose hits include " I Know Him So Well" (a chart-topping duet with Elaine Paige), " Answer Me" and " January February". Dickson has placed fifteen albums on the UK ...

(born 1947), British actress and singer *

Brenda Dickson Brenda Dickson is an American actress who originated the role of Jill Foster Abbott on the soap opera ''The Young and the Restless''. Early life and education Dickson was born in Long Beach, California. As a teenager, she toured Southeast A ...

(born 1949), American actress *

Dorothy Dickson Dorothy Dickson (July 25, 1893 – September 25, 1995) was an American-born, London-based theater actress and singer, and a centenarian. Biography and career Dickson is known mostly for her rendition of the Jerome Kern song "Look for the ...

(1893–1995), American actress *

Fiona Dickson Joan Fiona Castle (''née'' Dickson; born 1940) is a British retired dancer and was wife of TV entertainer Roy Castle. They were married from 1963 until his death from lung cancer in September 1994. She carried on his work for the Roy Castle ...

(born 1940), British dancer *

Gloria Dickson Gloria Dickson (born Thais Alalia Dickerson; August 13, 1917 – April 10, 1945) was an American stage and screen actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Early years Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Dickson was the daughter of a banker. After her father's dea ...

(1917–1945), American actress * Ian Dickson (born 1963), Australian music business figure and TV personality *

Nicolle Dickson Nicolle Dickson (born 29 January 1969) is an Australian former actress, who was best known for playing the original character of teenage tearaway Bobby Simpson in soap opera ''Home and Away'' from 1988 to 1993. She left the acting profession ...

(born 1969), Australian actress * Pearl Dickson (1903–1977), American Memphis and country blues singer and songwriter *

Peter Dickson (presenter) Peter Dickson is a voice-over artist. Credits Television *''Paddy's Show and Telly'' *'' OOglies'' *'' Monkey Dust'' *'' All Star Mr & Mrs'' (2008–2016) *'' Vic Reeves Big Night Out'' *'' E4'' *''The X Factor'' (2004–2018) *'' Britain's G ...

, British radio personality *

Tricia Dickson Samantha Tabak (born January 3, 1982), usually credited as Tricia Dickson, is an American voice actress. For a brief time, she was also a cast member of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series, ''All That''. Roles Anime *'' Angel Tales'' – Akane ...

(living), American voice actor *

Rob Dickson Robert Dickson (14 November 1963 – 10 April 2009) was an Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL, a film director, and the winner of the first edition of the reality game show ''Australian Survivor''. Early life and education Dickson ...

(living), Canadian songwriter

Politicians and activists

Alexander George Dickson Alexander George Dickson (1834 – 4 July 1889) was a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons for Dover. Dickson was born at Belchester, a stately home in Berwickshire, Sco ...

(1834–1889), British politician *

Anne Dickson Anne Letitia Dickson CBE (born 18 April 1928) is a former Northern Irish Unionist politician. Background Born in London, she moved with her family to Northern Ireland at an early age and was educated at Holywood and Richmond Lodge School.

(born 1928), Northern Ireland politician *

Charles Dickson, Lord Dickson Charles Scott Dickson, Lord Dickson, FRSE LLD (13 September 1850 – 5 August 1922) was a Scotland, Scottish Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist politician and judge. Life Charles was born in Glasgow the son of Dr John Robert Dickson. His eld ...

(1850–1922), Scottish judge and politician * Edward M. Dickson (1912–2000), American politician *

Fred Dickson Fred Dickson (July 4, 1937 – February 9, 2012) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and a Conservative member of the Senate of Canada. Dickson was appointed on the advice of Stephen Harper to the Senate on January 2, 2009. Career He was c ...

(1937–2012), Canadian Senator, Government of Canada (politician and lawyer) * Frank S. Dickson (1876–1973), American politician *

Gary Dickson Robert Gary Dickson is a lawyer and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the first Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner. Dickson was initially elected as a member of the Alberta Liberal Party in a 1992 by-elect ...

(living), Canadian politician * Jeremiah Dickson, Governor of Nova Scotia *

Joe Dickson Joe Dickson (March26, 1940April6, 2022) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2007 to 2018 who represented the riding of Ajax—Pickering. Background Dickson was born and rais ...

(living), Canadian politician *

John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington (31 October 1866 – 6 December 1936), born John Poynder Dickson and known as Sir John Poynder Dickson-Poynder from 1884 to 1910, was a British politician. He was Governor of New Zealand between 1 ...

(1866–1936), British politician * Joseph Dickson (1745–1825), American politician *

Julie Dickson Julie Dickson, was the Superintendent of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada, from July 4, 2007, to June, 2014. She later became a member of the ECB Supervisory Board, concerned with uniform regulatory oversight of ...

, Canadian public servant * Margaret H. Dickson (living), American politician *

Moses Dickson Moses Dickson (1824–1901) was an abolitionist, soldier, minister, and founder of the Knights of Liberty, an anti-slavery organization that planned a Slave rebellion, slave uprising in the United States and helped Slavery in the United States, ...

(1824–1901), African American abolitionist *

Samuel Dickson (American politician) Samuel Dickson (March 29, 1807 – May 3, 1858) was a United States representative from New York. Biography Samuel Dickson was born on March 29, 1807, in the portion of Bethlehem, New York, later incorporated as the town of New Scotland. He c ...

(1807–1858), American politician *

Steve Dickson Steven Lance Dickson (born 24 June 1962) is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly beginning in 2006, representing the electorates of Kawana (2006–2009) and Buderim (2009–2017). First elected for t ...

(living), Australian politician * Walter Hamilton Dickson (1806–1885), Canadian politician

Sportspeople

Bob Dickson Robert B. Dickson (born January 25, 1944) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Amateur career Dickson was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. He was introduced to golf at the age of five by his father ...

(born 1944), American golfer * Bill Dickson (1923 – 2002), Northern Irish Footballer *

Brandon Dickson Brandon Lee Dickson (born November 3, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes. Career St. L ...

(born 1984), American professional baseball player *

Byron W. Dickson Byron Wright "By" Dickson (March 18, 1875 – May 22, 1930) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Colby College (1898), Gettysburg College (1900), the University ...

(1875–1930), American athlete and coach * Charlie Dickson (1934–2013), Scottish footballer * Des Dickson (Australian footballer) (born 1941), Australian rules footballer *

Des Dickson (footballer, born 1948) Desmond Dickson (born 1948) is a Northern Irish retired footballer who played as an inside forward in the Irish League for Coleraine. He scored prolifically for the club, with 452 goals in 609 appearances. Dickson also managed the club. Hon ...

, Northern Irish footballer and manager * Herbert Dickson, Scottish footballer * Hugh Dickson (footballer, born 1899), Scottish footballer * Itimi Dickson (born 1983), Nigerian-Singaporean football player *

Jason Dickson Jason Royce Dickson (born March 30, 1973) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. Dickson is a graduate of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. He played for the Somerset Patriots and was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th ...

(born 1973), Canadian baseball player * Ken Dickson (1946–2013), Scottish and British wheelchair curler *

Lee Dickson Lee Dickson (born 29 March 1985 in Verden an der Aller, Verden, Germany) is an English professional rugby union player who plays at Rugby union positions#9. Scrum-half, scrum-half for Bedford Blues in the RFU Championship. Dickson played 49 t ...

(born 1985), British rugby player * Lance Dickson (born 1969), American baseball player *

Michael Dickson (American football) Michael Dickson (born 4 January 1996) is an Australian professional American football punter for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was selected by the Seahawks in ...

(born 1996), American football player *

Murry Dickson Murry Monroe Dickson (August 21, 1916 – September 21, 1989) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his vast array of pitches and delive ...

(1916–1989), American baseball player * Paul Dickson (football player) (1937–2011), American football player * Peter Dickson (footballer) who played for Scottish clubs Albion Rovers and Queen of the South *

Rick Dickson Rick Dickson (born June 14, 1954) is an American former sports administrator and current interim president of the University of Tulsa. He previously served as the athletic director at University of Tulsa, and at Tulane University from 2000 throug ...

(living), American athletics director *

(1963–2009), Australian rules footballer and film director *(Robert) Bruce Dickson (born 1931), Canadian hockey player, Gold medal Olympian *

Ryan Dickson Ryan Anthony Dickson (born 14 December 1986) is an English former professional association football, footballer who played predominantly as a left back, left-back. During his 14-year career in the Football League, Dickson began his career at Pl ...

(born 1986), English footballer *

Tom Dickson Thomas Dickson may refer to: * Thomas Dickson (sprinter) (born 1974), Saint Vincent track and field sprinter * Thomas Dickson (Upper Canada politician) (''c'' 1775–1825), Upper Canada businessman and political figure * Thomas Dickson (Nova Scotia ...

(living), American figure skater *

Tommy Dickson Thomas Arneill Dickson (16 July 1929 – 31 December 2007) was a Northern Irish international footballer who most notably played with Linfield from 1948 to 1965. He played 660 times for Linfield, scoring 454 goals. He has been cited as one of th ...

(1929–2007), Northern Ireland footballer * Xzavier Dickson (born 1992), American football player

Writers

Alexander Dicsone Alexander Dicsone (also Dicson and Dickson, ) (1558–1603) was a Scottish writer and political agent. He is known also as the leading Scottish disciple of Giordano Bruno. He used the pseudonym Heius Scepsius. Life Dicsone was born in Perthshire ...

(1558 - c1603), Scottish writer and agent *Carter Dickson, pen name of

John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 – February 27, 1977) was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn. He lived in England for a number of years, and ...

(1906–1977), American mystery writer *

Clarissa Dickson Wright Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Johnston Dickson Wright (24 June 1947 – 15 March 2014) was an English celebrity cook, television personality, writer, businesswoman, and former barrister. Sh ...

(1947–2014), British food writer *

Emma Lucy Dickson Emma Lucy Dickson (; 1854–1926) was a Canadian writer who had one novel published under the name Stanford Eleveth. Life Born on 21 November 1854 in Nova Scotia (possibly Truro), she appears to have spent some of her childhood in Maine and Prin ...

(1854–1926), Canadian writer who had one novel published under the name Stanford Eleveth. *

Gordon R. Dickson Gordon Rupert Dickson (November 1, 1923 – January 31, 2001) was an American science fiction writer. He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2000. Biography Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923 ...

(1923–2001), Canadian science fiction writer *Lieutenant Colonel

H. R. P. Dickson Lieutenant Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson (4 February 1881 – 14 June 1959) was a British colonial administrator in the Middle East from the 1920s until the 1940s, and author of several books on Kuwait. Life H. R. P. Dickson was one ...

(1881–1959), British political agent in the Middle East, and author of several books on Kuwait * Paul Dickson (living), American writer *

Samuel Henry Dickson Samuel Henry Dickson (September 20, 1798 - March 31, 1872) was an American poet, physician, writer and educator born in Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. Dickson graduated from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania. He w ...

(1798–1872), American poet, physician, writer and educator *Dame

Violet Dickson Hajjiyah Dame Violet Penelope Dickson, DBE (née Lucas-Calcraft; 3 September 1896 – 4 January 1991) was an English botanist, writer, and Orientalist. She was the wife of British colonial administrator H. R. P. Dickson. She lived in Kuwait for ...

(1896–1991), British author and botanist * M. Dickson American TV writer and producer (living)

Others

* Aaron Dickson (born 1980), Irish artist *Major General Sir Alexander Dickson (1777–1840), British Army officer * Alexander Dickson (1836–1887), Scottish botanist and botanical artist * Alexander Dickson (1857–1949), Scotland rosarian *

Amanda America Dickson Amanda America Dickson (November 20, 1849 – June 11, 1893) was an African-American socialite in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia who became known as one of the wealthiest African-American women of the 19th century after inheriting a large estate ...

(1849–1893), American socialite and former slave *

Andrew Dickson White Andrew Dickson White (November 7, 1832 – November 4, 1918) was an American historian and educator who co-founded Cornell University, one of eight Ivy League universities in the United States, and served as its first president for nearly two de ...

(1832–1918), American diplomat, author and educator, co-founder of Cornell University * Anthony Hampden Dickson (1935–2022), Jamaican Roman Catholic bishop *

Bertram Dickson Captain Bertram Dickson RHA (21 December 1873 – 28 September 1913) was a pioneer Scottish airman and the first British serviceman to qualify as a pilot. His exploits in the air, watched by Winston Churchill and Lord Kitchener, indirec ...

(1873–1913), British aviation pioneer *

Brian Dickson Robert George Brian Dickson (May 25, 1916 – October 17, 1998) was a Canadian lawyer, military officer and judge who served as the 15th chief justice of Canada from 1984 to 1990 and as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1973 ...

(1916–1998), Canadian judge, and Chief Justice of Canada 1984–1990 *

Brice Dickson Brice Dickson is a barrister from Northern Ireland and Emeritus Professor of International and Comparative Law at the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast. Formerly Professor of Law at the University of Ulster, he became the first Chief Comm ...

(living), Irish academic * Chris Dickson (disambiguation) * Colin Dickson (born 1956), British rosarian *General Sir Collingwood Dickson (1817–1904), British Army officer and Victoria Cross recipient * Sir David Dickson (1780–1850) senior British naval surgeon * Dawn Dickson (born 1979), American businesswoman *

Earle Dickson Earle Dickson (October 10, 1892—September 21, 1961) was an American inventor best known for inventing adhesive bandages in the US. He lived in Highland Park, New Jersey, for a large portion of his life. Biography Dickson was a cotton buyer at th ...

(1892–1961), American inventor of adhesive bandages * Emily Winifred Dickson (1866–1944), first woman Fellow of a College of Surgeons in Great Britain or Ireland *

Euan Dickson Euan Dickson, (31 March 1892 – 10 March 1980) was a British-born New Zealander bomber pilot and flying ace in the First World War. Serving with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and subsequently the Royal Air Force (RAF), he flew over 15 ...

(1892–1980), British-born New Zealander bomber pilot and flying ace * Eva Dickson (1905–1938), Swedish explorer * Evangeline Dickson (1922–2004), British artist *Lieutenant Commander Harlan Dickson (1920–1944), American naval officer * Harry Dickson, fictional detective * Henry Newton Dickson (1866–1922), oceanographer and meteorologist * James Dickson (disambiguation) * Jane Dickson (born 1952), American painter *

Jennifer Dickson Jennifer Dickson CM RA RE (17 September 1936 – 18 January 2025) was a South African-born British-Canadian photographer. She studied at Goldsmiths College in England and Atelier 17 in France. Early life and education Dickson was born in P ...

(1936–2025), South African-born British-Canadian photographer * John Dickson (disambiguation) *

Kwesi Dickson Kwesi Abotsia Dickson (7 July 1929 – 28 October 2005) was a Ghanaian Christian theologian. He was the seventh President of the Methodist Church Ghana and a professor at the University of Ghana, Legon. Early life and education Kwesi Dickson ...

(1929 – 2005, Ghanaian priest, theologian, author and academic. *

Larry Dickson Larry Dickson (born September 8, 1938, Warren, Ohio), is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978 ...

(born 1938), American racing driver *

Leonard Eugene Dickson Leonard Eugene Dickson (January 22, 1874 – January 17, 1954) was an American mathematician. He was one of the first American researchers in abstract algebra, in particular the theory of finite fields and classical groups, and is also rem ...

(1874–1954), American mathematician *

Michael Dickson (Irish republican) Michael Dickson may refer to: * Michael Dickson (American football) (born 1996), Australian gridiron football punter * Michael Dickson (Irish republican), Scottish former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer * Michael Dickson (enginee ...

(born 1964), IRA member *

Michael Dickson (engineer) Michael Geoerge Tufnell Dickson (22 September 1944 – 28 May 2018) was a structural engineer and a founding partner of Buro Happold. He was a Visiting Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Bath Department of Architecture and Ci ...

(1944–2018), British structural engineer * Moses Oruaze Dickson (born 1985), Nigerian lawyer *

Neil Dickson Neil Dickson (born 26 November 1950) is an English actor, who has worked extensively in both American and British film and television. Biography At the age of five, Dickson contracted polio, but made a complete recovery a year later. He attend ...

(living), British actor * Ngila Dickson (born 1958), New Zealand costume designer *

Oscar Dickson, 1st Baron Dickson Baron Oscar Dickson, or Oskar Dickson (2 December 1823 – 6 June 1897) was a Swedish magnate, bulk merchant, industrialist and philanthropist from a family of Scottish origin. In his time he was considered the most affluent of all Swedes. Court ...

(1823–1897), Swedish Explorer and philanthropist *

Renn Dickson Hampden Renn Dickson Hampden (29 March 1793 – 23 April 1868) was an English Anglican clergyman. His liberal tendencies led to conflict with traditionalist clergy in general and the supporters of Tractarianism during the years he taught at the Univ ...

(1793–1868), English bishop * Robert Dickson (disambiguation) * Sarah E. Dickson (1880–1965), first woman elder in the Presbyterian church * Thomas Dickson (disambiguation) * William Dickson (disambiguation) * William Dickson (solicitor) (1799–1875), solicitor, magistrate, banker and antiquary