Surname Dimmock - Meaning and Origin
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Dimmock: What does the surname Dimmock mean?
The last name Dimmock is of English origin. Its root is derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture, with the name deriving from Dymock, a locality in Gloucestershire. It is thought to come ultimately from the word 'dim', which could refer to a small valley or dell.
Before the Norman Conquest, the Dimmock surname would have been formed from a pre-existing personal name, a patronymic name meaning 'son of Dymock.' The spelling of the name would have varied, including such forms as Dimyke, Dimocke, Dymmocke, Dymyoke and Dimok, all of which were in use during the early modern period.
The earliest known record of the name dates to 1234, when it was spelled as Dimoke, and again in 1273, when it was recorded as Dymoke, both in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire.
Most records of the name have been found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset. During the Victorian era, many British people moved to the United States and adopted the name Dimmock. It is particularly common in Vermont and Massachusetts.
The surname Dimmock today is a proud and well-recognized name, tracing its roots back to a small valley in ancient Gloucestershire. It is a testament to a long and interesting British family history.
Order DNA origin analysisDimmock: Where does the name Dimmock come from?
The last name Dimmock is common throughout England, and more specifically in the Midlands of England. Dimmock has been found as a surname in records since at least the early 1500s, with the earliest records showing an origin in the area of Worcestershire. The first known instance of the name being recorded is in the 1567 muster rolls for the city of Kidderminster. Today, it is still most common in England; data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics shows that it ranks as the 12,713th most common surname in England and Wales, making it relatively uncommon overall.
But the name is not limited solely to England. There are other spellings of the last name that are found in record across Europe, such as Demmerick and Dimmrie, which together account for a few hundred more bearers of the surname living across the continent. The name is also present in limited numbers in Australia, the United States, and New Zealand.
No matter where the name is found, it is likely connected to the same original source, either the Devonshire town of Dymock, or the Dimmock family of Gloucestershire that first bore the name. In this way, present-day bearers of the name are likely connected to a shared past, albeit hundreds of miles apart.
Variations of the surname Dimmock
The surname Dimmock is a patronymic ethnicity name derived from the English Dimac. It has several variants, spellings, and surnames derived from its same origin. These include Dimock, Dymocke, Demacke, Demack, and Dymack. The variants Dymocke and Demacke are the more common versions of the name.
The surname Dimmock is a patronymic name commonly found in Southwestern England, particularly Cornwall and Devon, and is also connected with East Anglia and Leicestershire.
Variants, spellings and surnames from the same origin as Dimmock include Dymmoc, Dymmok, Demoke, Dymoke, Dymmocke, Dymock, Demacke, Demack, and Dymack. The spelling Demoke was most popular during the Elizabethan era, and Dymack in the seventeenth century.
The names Dimmick, Dimmock, Demacke, Demac, Dimock, Dimocke, Dymmok, Dymmock, and Dymock are also associated with the family name, but the connection may be more distant. For example, Dimmick and Dymmock are more commonly found in Scotland, and Demac are found in Ireland.
The Dimmock family also has an empire outside England, in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Spain, and United States of America. In the U.S., the name is chiefly found in Ohio, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
In Australia, the name is also fairly common. It is most strongly associated with the Victorian and Tasmanian regions.
Other associated spellings include Dimcok, Dimcoke, Dymsick, and the Scottish dimmysh.
Famous people with the name Dimmock
- Leslie Dimmock: British actor and television presenter, best known as host of the 1960s ITV game show Catchword.
- Paul Dimmock: British entrepreneur and film producer whose films have included The Red Violin, Beowulf & Grendel, and Othello's Last Dance.
- David Dimmock: American professional wrestler better known by the ring name "Crazy" Steve Dimmock.
- Barbara Dimmock: American artist and art educator whose work has been featured in galleries and exhibitions across the United States.
- Stuart Dimmock: British musician who has recorded and released several albums across various genres.
- Adam Dimmock: British actor best known for his roles in the television series The Tudors and Misfits.
- Alfred George Dimmock: Australian fiction writer and poet, author of the novels Mr. Brackenbury and Other Stories and The Valley of Mountains.
- Allan Dimmock: British actor and theatre director, noted for the pantomimes he created with British composer William Gill.
- Robert Dimmock: English doctor and author, notable works include the autobiographical account of his early life at sea, Man Before the Mast.
- Arthur Dimmock: British theologian and author of books on the Christian faith, including The Parables: A Statement of Principles.