This is a variant form of one of the Netherlands' most famous names, Van Dyke. The surname is habitational and does translate as one who lived by a dyke, or at one of the various places so named, and spelt Dyk, Diks or Dijk. The use of the prefix "van" has similar connotations to the French "de", or the German "von", and can imply aristocratic or land-owning associations. There are several Coats of Arms associated with the name, and there are a number of spellings including Van Dijck, Van Dyk and Van Diks, the earliest church records being based upon parishes in the Provinces of Brabant and Zuid Holland. The recording examples include: Arij Van Dijk, who married Annetje Tuijnman at Gouderak, Zuid Holland, on February 9th 1710, whilst on January 30th 1827, Berend Van Dijk, the son of Hendrik Jan Van Dijk, and the former Aaltje Timmerman, was born at Zwolle, Overijssel. The name was also an early recording in America, Lammert Van Dijk being recorded at the Dutch Reformed Church, New York City, on September 7th 1715, in the reign of King George 1 of England (1715 - 1727). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Merten Van Dijck, which was dated January 1st 1605, a witness at the christening of his daughter, Claeske, at Brabant, Holland, during the reign of Prince Phillip William of Nassau, 1584 - 1618. 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.