A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dickin family of England.
Reg. 7704 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. on a cross flory sa. a leopard's face or”
SalopLoppington · Salop, c. 1799
Where the Dickin Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Dickin arms are recorded
The Dickin arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1799.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in England when the Dickin 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Dickin Family in England
The surname Dickin 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 likely emerged in various parts of England as different families adopted it independently. By the late 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. Records from 1799 confirm that members of the family were active in the region during this period, often participating in the local agricultural and social life of the English countryside. Over time, the name became firmly rooted in the local history of the area, reflecting the broader patterns of family naming conventions that evolved across Britain during the Middle Ages and into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
Germanic name meaning brave or hardy ruler.
This name
DickinA diminutive form meaning son of little Richard.
also spelled
Dickyn
Dicken
Dykin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
