Surname Dymoke - Meaning and Origin
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Dymoke: What does the surname Dymoke mean?
The last name Dymoke is of English origin. It is a locational name derived from the village of Dymoke in Lincolnshire. The village is located near Horncastle. The origin of the name is said to date back to the 9th century when it was known as Dima's Oak. The name refers to the oak tree upon which ancient forest charters were written.
The name Dymoke then began to spread further afield as people from the settlement moved away and took the name with them. During the Middle Ages, the Dymoke family became one of the most powerful land-owning families in the region. They owned large estates and held the hereditary title Lord of Mannor of Scrivelsby. The Dymokes still hold the hereditary title of Kings Champion and the title is bestowed upon them by the reigning monarch.
The Dymoke name has a long and storied history, beginning with a single oak tree in the hamlet of Dymoke in 9th-century Lincolnshire and continuing today with the hereditary title of Kings Champion still held by the family.
Order DNA origin analysisDymoke: Where does the name Dymoke come from?
The surname Dymoke is most common today in Lincolnshire, England. This region has a centuries-old history of carrying the name, due to the hereditary rights of the Dymoke family as hereditary champions of England.
The Dymoke family have held the office of Champion of England since the coronation of King Henry IV in 1399, if not before. The position of Royal Champion has been held by the head of the Dymoke family ever since, in attendance of every English sovereign’s coronation.
The most prominent family members are John and James Dymoke, father and son, who served as the hereditary champion from 1660 until 1933. The family owned a number of properties in the area, including a manor house at Scrivelsby.
The name Dymoke is recorded in Lincolnshire documents from as early as the 14th century, with references to Sir John de Dymoke. The name also appeared in records from the 16th century, referring to members of the Dymoke family in Barton-on-Humber, Grainsby, and other locations in eastern and central Lincolnshire.
Today, members of the Dymoke family still live and work in the Lincolnshire area, many of them in the same locations that their ancestors did. While the office of champion is mostly ceremonial these days, it remains an important part of the region’s history and culture, and the name Dymoke is still used by many people in Lincolnshire today.
Variations of the surname Dymoke
The surname Dymoke is found primarily in the UK and parts of Europe, and is usually found spelled as such. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
Dimock, Dimok, Dimoak, Dymmok, Dymmoke, Dimoke, Demock, Dumbuck, Dumbock, Dumboke, Dumoak, Dummock, Dommoc, Democ, Jimmock, Jimmok and Jimmoke.
These variants all have origins in the old English name, Edmwoc or Eadmuoc, with the suffix oc or ocke referring to a son or descendant of the original name holder, in this case Edmwoc. Historically, the Dymoke family gained prominence in the 1200s when one member, Ralph Dymoke, was appointed royal champion of England.
The Dymoke family has held the title of 'Her Majesty's Champion' for a considerable length of time, through the presidencies of the House of Lancaster, the House of York and the House of Tudor. As a traditional part of British coronation ceremonies, the champion on a white charger is part of the ceremony, along with a declaration of loyalty. Today, the Dymoke of Scrivelsby estate in Lincolnshire holds this title as a hereditary role, with the Royal Warrant of Appointment being granted by Her Majesty the Queen.
Variations of the name are found within Ireland, where the spelling is often anglicized Dumican or Dumquan. In Scotland, the spelling is Macdymock, being a patronymic or a derivation of a first name, prefixing it with 'Mac' or 'Mc' meaning 'son of', in this case son of Edmuoc.
Famous people with the name Dymoke
- The Dymoke family has held the hereditary title of Kings Champion since 1385. Sir Edward Dymoke holds this title currently.
- Ashley Dymoke, daughter of Sir Edward Dymoke, is a actress known for her role in the movie Sherlock Holmes.
- Robert Dymoke, brother of Sir Edward Dymoke, is a lawyer and former British Conservative Party politician.
- Harry Dymoke, son of Sir Edward Dymoke, is an actor known for his roles in the BBC television show Poldark and the movie The Danish Girl.
- Earl John Dymoke of Scrivelsby, the son of Ashley and Robert Dymoke, is the heir presumptive to the hereditary title of Kings Champion.
- Ann Dymoke, daughter of Sir Edward Dymoke, is a model and television actress known for her work on Britain's Next Top Model.
- Jennifer Dymoke, daughter of Sir Edward Dymoke, is a model and lingerie designer.
- Martin Dymoke, son of Robert Dymoke, is a British educationalist.
- Stuart Dymoke, son of Robert Dymoke, is a member of the Church of England clergy and the Chaplain to the Queen.