The Dickens surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 18,123 people carried this name — #1,990 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 16,300 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (18,181).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dickens surname

A surname originating as a patronymic, notably borne by Charles Dickens, English novelist.

From Dicken, a medieval diminutive form of Dick + the patronymic suffix -s.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dickens» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Richard Digon, London, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Dickens, Dickenson, Dickins, Dickinson and Dickons.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 240 · public domain.

In Belgium’s population register

At least 132 people named Dickens live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Antwerp.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Antwerp 132

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 21 people named Dickens.

Most of them — 12 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Oise.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 12
Oise 4
Pas-de-Calais 3
Ardennes 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

63 people named Dickens is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 63

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Dickens was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Buckinghamshire: 40 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 250. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Dickens and Dickins.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Buckinghamshire 40
Northamptonshire 35
Bedfordshire 30
Hertfordshire 18

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

42 families named Dickens, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 188 people lived in those households, 4.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 17
New York 15
Rhode Island 4
Virginia 3
Vermont 2
Connecticut 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 237 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Dickens in American newspapers,
1870–1888.

Newspaper page from The Evening Telegraph carrying the name Dickens
The Evening Telegraph 1870-06-10
Newspaper page from The Bozeman Weekly Chronicle carrying the name Dickens
The Bozeman Weekly Chronicle 1888-06-06
Newspaper page from The Evening Telegraph carrying the name Dickens
The Evening Telegraph 1871-01-16

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 8,225 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dickens in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

24,683 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dickens. The most, 3,323, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 8,099
New South Wales 7,184
Queensland 3,634
South Australia 2,572
Tasmania 1,655
Western Australia 1,317
ACT (Canberra) 158
Northern Territory 29

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dickens.

Who carried it

People named Dickens,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Samuel Dickens d. 1840 · politician
  • Anne Dickens d. 1637
  • Margaret Mary Dickens d. 1969
  • Eliza Anne Dickens d. 1878
  • William Dickens 1553–1583
  • George Dickens 1597–

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dickens,
in the records of 10 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,181 records

1,181 records of the Dickens name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 580
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 254
  • Other U.S. records 347
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Kenneth L. Dickens

    Born 1916 in Colorado. Enlisted 1942 at Los Angeles, California; bank clerk. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Russel L. Dickens

    Born 1920 in North Carolina. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Bragg; farm hand from Halifax County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alice Dickens

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 20; servant. From Northampton, England; bound for Chicago.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,181 records for Dickens in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia669 records

669 records of the Dickens name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 282
  • Tasmanian Names Index 162
  • Other Australian records 225
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Eliza Jane Dickens

    Born 1862 in Westbury, Tasmania. Married 1887 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 24.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Dickens

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Morley, arriving 1818; ticket of leave 1839. Native of Essex.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Theodore H. Dickens

    Arrived in Victoria in 1862 aboard the Anglesey, aged 35.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 669 records for Dickens in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands634 records

634 records of the Dickens name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 234
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 215
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 185
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joannes Petrus Dickens

    Married in 1889 in Baarle-Nassau; born in Baarle-Hertog. Died 1959 in Dussen.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Theresia Maria Dickens

    Born 1815 in Waspik. Married in 1839 in Waspik. Died 1892 in Bokhoven.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Streekarchief Langstraat Heusden Altena (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Albertus Dickens

    Born 1871 in Tilburg. Married in 1897 in Tilburg. Died 1945 in Tilburg.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 634 records for Dickens in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada59 records

59 records of the Dickens name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 30
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 9
  • Other Canadian records 20
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robt Dickens

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Scan, landing at Portland, bound for Woodstock, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Margaret Juliana Dickens

    Died 1993, aged 54; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Gussie Dickens

    Died 1924 in Springhill, Cumberland, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 59 records for Dickens in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom41 records

41 records of the Dickens name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 36
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 3
  • Other British records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Dickens

    Buried in 1852 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 46.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas Dickens

    Will proved in 1882; of Llangadwaladr, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. Dickens

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 41 records for Dickens in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand16 records

16 records of the Dickens name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 8
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William George Dickens

    Died 1959, aged 88; buried at Ward Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Nolan James Dickens

    Died 1969, aged 58; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 16 records for Dickens in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the Dickens name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Michel Dickens

    Born 1932 in Compiègne; died 1997 in Compiègne (Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Francoise Dickens

    Born 1945 in Compiègne (Oise); died 1991 in Cergy (Val-d'Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Dickens in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium3 records

3 records of the Dickens name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ferdinandus Dickens

    Married in 1911 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Alice Dickens

    Born 1912 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Dickens in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany3 records

3 records of the Dickens name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hans Dickens

    From Düsseldorf. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 4 March 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 53).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Peter Dickens

    From Mülheim. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 4 July 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Dickens in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Dickens name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Walter Dickens

    Census of 1910: Fredensborgveien, Kristiania; born 1882 in England.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dickens.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dickens is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Dickens volume
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