Surname Dicker - Meaning and Origin

Dicker: What does the surname Dicker mean?

The last name Dicker is a German surname believed to be derived from the old German word 'ticker', which means to knock or tap. It is likely that the name came from an ancestor who worked at tapping either leather hides into shape or tapping barrels to control the flow of liquid. The name dates back to the 13th century in what is now Germany and was also used occasionally as an alternative spelling for the Dutch name Dijker.

The original bearers of the name were likely tradesmen or craftsmen, specializing in leatherworks or barrel manufacture and repair. There are some records of the Dicker surname appearing in the Netherlands during the 16th century, suggesting that at least some branches of the family likely migrated there from the German provinces.

In the modern day, it is likely that the Dicker surname is found mainly in the German-speaking nations, although descendants of Dicker migrants to other countries may also still exist from earlier centuries. In some countries, different variations of the name (e.g. "Dickers" or "Dickersch") may be used in spelling and pronunciation. With its relatively unique spelling and meaning, it's likely that records of the Dicker surname across the centuries will be readily traceable, one way of tracing family history.

Dicker: Where does the name Dicker come from?

The last name Dicker is a relatively uncommon surname. It is primarily found in the United States, although rare instances have been found in Europe, especially Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Dicker is a topographic name referring to someone living near thickets or hedgerows, derived from the Germanic word for "thicket" or "hedge".

In the United States, the last name is particularly common in the Midwest and the Northeast. It is found at high concentrations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. There is also an increased presence in the New York metropolitan area and the states of Massachusetts and New Jersey.

According to the latest data from the United States Census Bureau, the estimated population of people with the surname Dicker is 8,571. As of 2018, this represented 0.003% of the total US population. This suggests that the name is comparatively rare in the US. Moreover, many people with the surname have likely adopted an alternate spelling, such as "Diker".

Overall, the last name Dicker has a concentrated presence in the United States but is uncommon in other parts of the world. It is derived from a Germanic word, indicating that the surname likely has European origins.

Variations of the surname Dicker

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Dicker are as follows:

Dicker

Dickerd

Dickert

Dickard

Dikert

Diccari

Dicke

Decker

Deckard

Deckert

Deckerd

Deck

Dikkers

Dikkersd

Decar

The Dicker surname is of German origin, deriving from two distinct sources. The first is derived from the medieval personal name “Theoderic”, which is composed of the elements “theud”, meaning, “people”, and “ric”, meaning “ruler”. In this instance, the surname would be interpreted to mean “The ruler of the people”.

The second source of the Dicker surname is the German occupational name for a fuller, deriving from the Middle High German word “dichter”, meaning a fuller. A fuller was a person who worked with cloth, beating the material in order to clean and thicken it.

The Dicker surname has been found in numerous spellings, including Deckert, Deckard, Dickard, Dicke, Dickere, Dicker, Dickert, and Deckers, as well as several others.

The surname is also found with Dutch origins as a topographic name, stemming from the words “dik”, meaning “large” or “thick”, and “ker”, meaning “place” or “site”.

In addition to those listed above, other variants and surnames of the same origin, which may be spelled differently include: Deckersdijk, Decord, Diker, Denker and Deiker.

Famous people with the name Dicker

• Laura Dicker: American actress, known for her roles in films such as “Black Swan,” “Girl, Interrupted” and “The Perfection.”
• Joel Dicker: Swiss author, best known for his international best-selling debut novel “The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair.”
• Brad Dicker: American entrepreneur and investor known for his role as the co-founder of the start up, Whoop, an innovative fitness tracker company.
• Jesse Dicker: American poet and the executive editor of Tupelo Quarterly.
• Stephen Dicker: English actor, popular for his roles in British television series such as “Holby City” and “Coronation Street.”
• John Dicker: Manager of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at PSSI, a food service provider in the United States.
• Steven Dicker: New York-based lawyer and a partner at the global law firm Proskauer.
• Helene Dicker: French political scientist and the director of the French Centre for the Analysis of Social Issues at the University of Paris.
• Glen Dicker: Former Wales rugby union player who played for the British and Irish Lions in the 1950s.
• Heather Dicker: Canadian entrepreneur and the founder of Expat Explore, a travel company offering adventure tours throughout Europe.

Other surnames

DickeDickelDickeleDickemannDickenDickensDickenscheidDickenscheidtDickenschiedDickensonDickermanDickersonDickertDickesDickescheidDickesonDickeyDickeys