This interesting surname is a patronymic form of Dick, which is of Scottish and English origin, and is derived from the pet form of the personal name Richard. The personal name was originally known as "Ricehard", meaning a hard ruler, derived from the Germanic "ric", power and "hard", hardy, brave, strong; the name was later developed into Ricard. The Normans spread the present forms of the name, Richard, after the Conquest of 1066. The name development since 1366 (see below) includes the following: John Dykonesson (1388, Yorkshire), Henry Dicason (1518, Yorkshire), Gilbert Dychenson (1585, Yorkshire) and Nicholas Dikersone (1598, Norfolk). The modern patronymics of the name include: Dickinson, Dickenson, Dickison, Dicke(-)son and Dickason. Among the sample recordings in London are the marriages of Edward Dickenson and Collet Olyver on August 28th 1594 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, and of Charles Dickenson and Jane Younger on December 19th 1687 at St. James', Dukes Place. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Dykouson, which was dated 1366, The Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, during the reign of King Edward 111, "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.