Dickerson surname meaning

Dickerson is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Dick.” Dick was a widespread medieval pet form of Richard, so the surname records descent or family association with a man known by that shorter name. Dickenson, Dickson, and Dixon are related-looking forms that developed through different spelling and regional patterns. Richard’s traditional Germanic “brave ruler” gloss belongs to the given name, not to the surname’s literal description. The same patronymic could arise in many communities from different men called Dick. The catalog uses parent’s name with high confidence.