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There are approximately 4,016 people named Dykes in the UK. That makes it the 2,574th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 64 are named Dykes.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

England

Language of origin

English

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

English
Location or Geographical Feature

Related and similar surnames

Dike
Dyke
Dikes
Dickes
Dilkes
Dyck
Dicke
Dicks
Duyck
Dycus
Dilks
Dyckes
Duykes
Dikkes
Dycke
Dycks
Duycks
Dickses
Duyke
Dikies
Dyckis
Dixes
Diksz
Dillkes
Diks
Dicckes
Dkyes
Duycke
Dixkes
Dickies
Dickse

The Dykes surname in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

DYKES. 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." Tlie family originated at Dykesfield, co. Cumberland, on the line of tliat celebrated defence. There is no doubt that the popular appellation of Hadrian's work was "tlie Dyke," or " the Dykes," just as " Graham's Dyke" vas that of the more northern defence of Lollius Urbicus. See much interesting information on this subject in Dr. Bruce's " Roman Wall," edit. 185.3, pp. 279, et seq., and Preface, p. ix. Dykesfield may have been so named either from the family, or inxmediately 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, Avhich is not De Dykesfield, but Del Dykes, i. e. " of the Dykes." Robert Del Dykes, the first recorded individual of the familj, is mentioned in a deed (witliout date, but known from internal evidence to be) of temp. Henry III., penes F. L. B. Dykes, Esq. Another ancient northern family of the same district — that of Thirlwall — also derive their appellation from the Roman Wall. See Thirlwall.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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