This very interesting surname is of late medieval Dutch-Flanders origins. It derives from the word "Doek", meaning a canvas sheet, and is a metonymic for a maker of sails and tarpaulin covers. The surname is widely recorded in Northern Europe and although rare, is also to be found in both England and Scotland, the dates suggesting a probable, although unproven, Huguenot association. The name is recorded in the Netherlands in the original spelling of Doeck, and also in the patronymic "Doeksen"; one Willem Doeck being recorded in Amsterdam, on November 17th 1644. On October 21st 1674, Stophel Doick married Gertrud Moeller at Ernitte, Westphalen, Germany, whilst some seventy years later the name appears in England when a Richard Doikes was christened at Edgbaston, Warwickshire, on May 17th 1718. In Scotland, on June 1st 1811, Agnes Doick married John Stobo at Ayr, and on June 16th 1870, William Doick married Ann Mulligan, at Bothwell, Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Douwes Doijck, which was dated June 24th 1649, marriage to Annes Pijtter, at Welsripj, Friesland, Netherlands, during the reign of Prince William 11 of Orange, 1647 - 1650. 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.