Dilks

This interesting name is the patronymic (son of) form of Dillon a name which has two sources of origin. The first being from the Germanic personal name "Dillo", (of uncertain origin, perhaps a byname from the root "dil", to destroy), introduced into England by the Normans. Alternatively, it could be a locational name from Dilwyn, near Hereford, recorded in 1138 as Dilun, from the Olde English pre 7th Century "diglum", recess or retreat. Two early recordings of the name in London are of one Elizabeth Dilks daughter of Roger and Sara Dilks who was christned as St. Andrew's Holborn on 24 April 1622, and one Mary Dilks daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Dilks, who was christened on 26th November 1694, St. Dunstan, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Dylke, which was dated 1278, in the "Assize Rolls", Somerset, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.