Surname Dyce - Meaning and Origin
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Dyce: What does the surname Dyce mean?
The last name Dyce is a toponymic surname that derives from the Dyce area near Aberdeen, Scotland. This swathe of land, which was designated in the 12th century, was named after Deesi, an ancient Pictish people who once held the area.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname found in public records dates back to 13th century Scotland. The earliest recorded Dyce to carry this name was Robert de Dyce, who was described as a “covenanter” in 1296. It’s thought that many of the modern-day Dyce family trees can trace their roots back to this ancestor.
Since the start of the 19th century, more Dyce family members have been recorded during the time of increased Scottish emigration overseas. Dyce family members have subsequently settled across the world, with some known to have lived in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Dyce surname is said to designate a hardworking and diligent person whose word is to be trusted and respected. This last name is believed to say much about the people who carry it, with many bearers being leaders in their fields, working hard to honour the Dyce name.
Order DNA origin analysisDyce: Where does the name Dyce come from?
The last name Dyce is most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland today.
In Scotland, Dyce is especially prevalent in Aberdeenshire. In 1890, the surname Dyce was at its highest point and the region was home to 35 percent of all Dyces in the country. In the same year, Aberdeenshire's Dyce population was the largest of any county in Scotland. This region continues to be home to a large percentage of the Dyce's in Scotland today.
In Northern Ireland, the surname Dyce is most popular in County Antrim. In the 1900s, the county had the highest concentration of the family name in the country. As of 2020, there are still a high number of Dyces within County Antrim, making it the county in Northern Ireland with the highest concentration of the surname.
Dyce is not a terribly common last name in England, however records show that an individual with the last name Dyce can be found in almost every county within England.
Given its prevalence in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, the last name Dyce is likely to be associated with people of Irish and Scottish descent.
Variations of the surname Dyce
The surname Dyce is an Anglo-Saxon surname of Old English origin and is derived from the medieval given name or nickname Dic, which is composed of the elements ‘dic’ meaning “dye” and ‘heort’ meaning “heart”, and was given to someone with a good or noble heart. The name is also found spelt as Dice, Deice, Dykes and Dykeson.
Variants of the name include Dyce, Dyess, Dyas, Dyse, Deice, Dice and Dees. Other spellings of the surname include Dyc, Dykes, Dykeson, Dike, Dikes, Dikeson, Dyckes, Dyckeson, Dyycke, Dyyckez, Dic and Dick.
It was a common practice in the Middle Ages for people to adopt a coat of arms through their newly adopted surnames. Thus, a great many persons bearing the name Dyce were recorded in ancient heraldic documents in Scotland and England. These included Gilebert Dyce of Forfar on 1350; he was a witness in the court of George, Abbott of Coupar, Angus; and John Dicke, who was fifteen years old in the 16th century and was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Kent in 1525.
The Dyce family seat was in the Barony of Inverugie in Aberdeenshire since about 1200. The family motto "Once More" suggests a first-name basis family connection or ancestral line to the baronial seat of Inverugie. Notable people of the name include Sir Alexander Dyce (1798-1869), the noted Shakespearean scholar; and composer R.F. (Reginald Forester) Dyce.
The Dyce surname is most common in Scotland, where it is still found in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name is also still found in England in counties such as Lancashire.
Famous people with the name Dyce
- Alan Dyce: American radio announcer, comedy writer and producer.
- Mrinalini Sarabhai: Indian classical dancer choreographer and instructor.
- John Dyce: 19th century Scottish physician and writer.
- Robert Dyce: British Admiral and Naval architect.
- Eddy Dyce: British athlete, rower and cyclist.
- Sandra Dyce: Canadian actress, director and playwright.
- Tony Dyce: American football player and sports commentator.
- Dylan Dyce: American film and television actor.
- Robert Dyce Sadler: Australian politician.
- Arthur Dyce: British Merchant Navy Officer and sea captain.