A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dickes family of England.
Reg. 9379 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a fesse vairé erm. and sa. betw. three cinquefoils of the last”
CumberlandWalthole · Cumberland, c. 1620
Where the Dickes Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Dickes arms are recorded
The Dickes arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1620.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their own.
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 Dickes 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Dickes Family in England
The surname Dickes is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Dick. Because Dick was a common medieval nickname for Richard, the name emerged across various parts of England as families began adopting permanent surnames. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Dickes family were well-established in the county of Cumberland. This region, located in the far northwest of England near the Scottish border, was a rugged area defined by its hills and farming communities. Families living in Cumberland during the early seventeenth century often relied on agriculture or local trade to survive. As the name spread through the generations, it remained tied to these northern roots, reflecting the history of families who built their lives in the rural landscapes of the English borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning brave and powerful ruler.
This name
DickesA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Richard, meaning son of Dick.
also spelled
Dykes
Dickis
Related arms
Dyxsame arms
Dykesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Cumbria Archive Service, Kendal Archive Centre: Parish Registers for the Diocese of Carlisle, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
