Dyke

Dyke
This long-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a topographical name from residence by a ditch or dyke, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "dic", dyke, earthwork, Middle English "diche, dike". The medieval dyke, a wider and more prominent feature than the modern ditch, was usually constructed for purposes of defence rather than drainage, and in places of Norse settlement, the word "dyke" may be from the oblique case of the Olde English "dic", reinforced by the Old Norse "diki". Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognizable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. Early examples of the surname include: John attedich (Cambridgeshire, 1260); John del Dike (Yorkshire, 1297); Robert del Dykes (Cumberland, 1303); and William del Dikes (Yorkshire, 1332). Mr Dykes, an early settler in the New World, was recorded as a landholder of some standing on St. Davids, the Sommer Islands, on August 23rd 1673. A notable namebearer was John Bacchus Dykes (1823 - 1847), theologian; Doctor of Music, Durham, and composer of numerous hymn-tunes. A Coat of Arms granted to the Dykes family is a silver shield, on a chief indented red, three bezants or gold coins, significant of the pieces of gold found during pilgrimages to Byzantine lands. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joc de la Dike, which was dated circa 1250, in "Studies in Middle English Local Surnames", Sussex, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • dyke — [ dik; dajk ] n. m. • 1759; dike 1768; mot angl. « digue » ♦ Géol. Roche éruptive qui fait saillie à la surface du sol et qui affecte la forme d une épaisse muraille ou d une colonne. ⇒ neck. ● dyke nom masculin (anglais dyke, digue) Filon de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • dyke — s.n. (geol.) Filon de lavă injectată şi consolidată în crăpătura unui con vulcanic, care, prin eroziunea terenurilor, rămâne în relief ca un zid. ♦ Dig mic. [pron. daic. / < engl. dyke]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 25.02.2005. Sursa: DN  DYKE… …   Dicționar Român

  • dyke — Ⅰ. dyke [1] (also dike) ► NOUN 1) an embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea. 2) an earthwork serving as a boundary or defence: Offa s Dyke. 3) a ditch or watercourse. 4) Geology an intrusion of igneous rock cutting across existing… …   English terms dictionary

  • Dyke — Dyke, n. See {Dike}. The spelling dyke is restricted by some to the geological meaning. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dyke — dyke; van·dyke; dyke·reeve; …   English syllables

  • dyke — dyke, dike In the meaning ‘embankment’, dyke is the preferred form. This is also true of the different (slang) word dyke, meaning ‘a lesbian’ …   Modern English usage

  • dyke — (n.) 1931, American English, perhaps a shortening of morphadike, dialectal garbling of HERMAPHRODITE (Cf. hermaphrodite); but bulldyker engage in lesbian activities is attested from 1921, and a source from 1896 lists dyke as slang for the vulva.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Dyke — (spr. daik), Sir William Hart , Baronet, engl. Staatsmann, geb. 1837, studierte in Oxford und wurde 1865 ins Unterhaus gewählt, wo er der konservativen Partei beitrat. Er war von 1874–80 Sekretär im Schatzamt unter Lord Beaconsfield und fungierte …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Dyke —   [daɪk, englisch] der, (s)/ s, Dike [daɪk], Geologie: Gang …   Universal-Lexikon

  • dyke — dike [daık] n [Sense: 1, 3; Origin: Old English dic ditch, dike ] [Sense: 2; Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Probably from morphadyke male and female person, homosexual (1900 2000), from hermaphrodite] 1.) a wall or bank built to keep back water and… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dyke — [ daık ] noun count 1. ) OFFENSIVE an offensive word for a LESBIAN (=woman who is gay) 2. ) another spelling of dike …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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