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.