Dykes is a British surname originating from the hamlet of Dykesfield near Carlisle, Cumbria at the northern end of England. Due to its close proximity to the English and Scottish borders, the surname Dykes has also been found in Scottish lowlands throughout the ages. A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ... This article is about the English city. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ...

The first family to bear the surname are said to have lived in the area prior to William the Conquerer's Norman Conquest of England. The family took their surname from Hadrian's Wall, also referred to in some texts as Hadrian's Dyke. The great wall crossed Great Britain from the mouth of the Tyne to the Solway Firth and forms part of the border for Dykesfield. King William I of England William I ( 1027–September 9, 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087. ... Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman Conquest was the conquest of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. ... Hadrians Wall (in Latin: Vallum Hadriani) was a stone and turf fortification, built by the Romans across the width of Great Britain to prevent military raids by the Pictish tribes of Scotland to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in the south, to define the... The River Tyne can refer to two rivers in the United Kingdom: River Tyne, England River Tyne, Scotland This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Solway Firth is a body of water that borders the most north westerly county of England (Cumbria) and the most south westerly county of Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway). ...

At this early period of history, however, the surname existed in a different form from the modern day; del Dykes, literally meaning 'of the Dyke', indicating the region from where family heralded. The first recorded use of the surname in this original form comes from either the reign of Henry III or Edward I, though the exact date of the record is unknown. It does, however, reveal that land owned by one Robert del Dykes at Burgh was conveyed to one William del Monkys. Henry III (October 1, 1207 – November 16, 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. ... King Edward I of England (June 17, 1239 – July 7, 1307), popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch frame and the Hammer of the Scots (his tombstone, in Latin, read, Hic est Edwardvs Primus Scottorum Malleus, Here lies Edward I, Hammer of the Scots), achieved fame...

Historical records show that the family from whom the surname originated were moderately wealthy for the time. Genealogical research into the family indicates that Robert del Dykes owned land during the reign of Edward I, and that in 1379, during the reign of Richard II, Adam del Dykes owned land further east in Yorkshire. Events Robert of Geneva, the butcher of Cesena was elected as Pope Clement VII. This led to a schism in the Catholic church with one pope in Rome (Pope Gregory XI and the antipope (Clement VII) in Avignon. ... Richard II (January 6?, 1367 – February 14, 1400) was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, and Joan The Fair Maid of Kent. He was born at Bordeaux and became his fathers heir when his elder brother died in infancy. ... Yorkshire as a traditional county. ...

Another family member bearing the name William del Dykes is noted as having represented the Count of Cumberland in the English Parliament during the reign of Henry VI. More is known about this William than those who had previously bore the surname. Records indicate that he married Elizabeth, the daughter of William de Leigh lord of the manor of High Leigh. The de Leigh family history was rather fanciful claiming descent from a sister of William the Conqueror, and Charlies, King of Neustria and son of Charlemagne. William del Dykes is also known to have received the manor and lands at Wardhall, Cumbria (also referred to in texts as Warthole and Wardale), subsequent generations would come to use the land but would later move to Dovenby Hall in Cumbria. A body now called the English Parliament first arose during the thirteenth century, referred to variously as colloquium and parliamentum. It shared most of the powers typical of representative institutions in medieval and early modern Europe, and was arranged from the fourteenth century in a bicameral manner, with a House... Henry VI (December 6, 1421 – May 21/22, 1471) was King of England from 1422 to 1461 (though with a Regent until 1437) and then from 1470 to 1471. ... Charles (d. ... A Frankish king, like Charlemagne, (center) depicted in the Sacramentary of Charles the Bald (about 870) Charlemagne (c. ...

By the 17th Century it appears that majority of those bearing the surname del Dykes had dropped the prefix of 'del' and had begun simply using the surname Dykes, as it is most commonly found today. Thomas Dykes is one such family member who appears to have been responsible for the family motto and symbol used by the majority of his descendants and others bearing the surname. Thomas, a Royalist at the time of the English Civil War during the reign of Charles I, secreted himself at Wardhall after the defeat of his party at the Battle of Marston Moor. Thomas is reputed to have hid in many areas of his land, including in a mulberry tree, which stands to this day. It was all in vain, however, has he was soon captured by the Parliamentarians and imprisoned at Cockermouth Castle. Thomas was offered his freedom and the restoration of his property if he would become a traitor to his King by joining the Parliamentarians, but responded with Prius frangitur quam flectitur - Sooner broken than bent. Thomas died at Cockermouth Castle and, such was the strength of the story, the family adopted Prius frangitur quam flectitur as the family motto, and the mulberry tree as the family symbol. The noun or adjective, Royalist, can have several shades of meaning. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, specifically to the first (1642–1645) and to second (1648–1649) (civil wars between the supporters of King Charles I and the... Charles I (19 November 1600–30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625, until his death. ... The Battle of Marston Moor, one of the decisive battles of the English Civil War, took place on July 2, 1644. ... A parliamentarian is a specialist in parliamentary procedure. ... Cockermouth is a historic town in Cumbria, England, where the River Cocker flows into the River Derwent. ...

While the surname had changed from del Dykes to Dykes by the 17th Century further changes can be charted and, Dykes aside, other incarnations include Dyke, Dikes and Dike, though instances of the surname del Dykes can still be found.

While still a relatively obscure surname, people bearing it still live throughout the United Kingdom. It is still most common in the northern counties, particularly in Lancashire and Cheshire. Areas such as Liverpool and Warrington are some of the most populous to this day, records show that members of the family moved to these areas as early as the 18th Century. Lancashire (archaically, the County of Lancaster) is a county palatine of England, lying on the Irish Sea. ... This article is about the English county. ... Liverpools skyline, as seen from the River Mersey. ... Warrington, United Kingdom’s second biggest town (as opposed to city) after Northampton, is a town and borough in North West England, between Manchester and Liverpool. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

Outside of the United Kingdom the surname can also be found in most parts of the Commonwealth and other former British Empire nations including Australia, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. // Definition and linguistics The original phrase common wealth or the common weal is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica (public matters), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the greek politeia as well as for the republican (i. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

Current bearers of the surname include Hugh Dykes, The Lord Dykes, and Greg Dykes, former head of the BBC. Hugh John Maxwell Dykes, The Lord Dykes, born 17 May 1939 to Richard and Doreen Dykes. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1927 by means of a royal charter. ...

References

• Bulmer. (1901) Plumbland, Bulmer's History & Directory Of Cumberland.
• Bulmer. (1901) The Worthies of Cumberland and Westmorland, Bulmer's History & Directory Of Cumberland.
• Ford Rallye Sport. (2004) From ancient tower to futuristic rally team base.