A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dickins family of England.
Reg. 8432 · 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; granted by Segar, Garter 1525, quarterly with SCRASE, viz., az. a dolphin naiant ar. fins or, betw. three escallops of the last, also granted by Segar, in 1616”
SussexCoolhurst · Sussex, c. 1525
Where the Dickins Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Dickins arms are recorded
The Dickins arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1525.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in England when the Dickins 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Dickins Family in England
The surname Dickins originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a diminutive form of the name Richard, specifically evolving from the nickname Dick. By adding the suffix "ins," which implies "son of," the name became a way to identify individuals as the children of Dick. Historical records confirm that members of the Dickins family were well-established in the county of Sussex by 1525. During this period, families often lived in rural communities where they worked as farmers or tradespeople. Because surnames were not strictly standardized at the time, the spelling could vary significantly in local documents, appearing as Dickens, Dickins, or even Dykyns. These early families played a quiet but steady role in the local economy and social structure of southern England as they passed their name down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning brave, hardy, powerful, and ruler.
This name
DickinsA patronymic surname meaning son of little Dick, a diminutive of Richard.
also spelled
Dickens
Dykyns
Related arms
Dickensvariant 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
The National Archives, Subsidy Rolls for the County of Sussex, E 179/189/13, 1525
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
