A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dicker family of England.
Reg. 9080 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a chev. gu. betw. three Cornish choughs ppr. a crescent or”
OxfordRotherfield Pipard · Oxford, c. 1620
Where the Dicker Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Dicker arms are recorded
The Dicker arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1620.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Dicker arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Oxford.
Origin & History of the Dicker Family in England
The surname Dicker is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It comes from the Middle English word "diker," which referred to a person who worked with hides or leather. Specifically, a diker was someone who dealt in groups of ten skins, as the term was derived from the Latin word "decuria." By the time the family was firmly established in Oxford in 1620, the name had become a permanent identifier for families involved in the local trade and craft guilds of the city. These early ancestors were likely part of the growing middle class that supported the university town through essential manual labor and commerce. Over the generations, the name transitioned from a simple job description to a hereditary family title that linked these individuals to the historical development of the Oxfordshire region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dic
Old English term referring to a measure of ten items.
This name
DickerAn occupational name for a dealer or trader who sold goods in groups of ten.
also spelled
Dyker
Decker
Related arms
Deckervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Council Records: Freemen and Apprentices, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
