This interesting surname is almost certainly of French origins, and probably a Huguenot refugee entry into Britain in the 17th or 18th century. It probably derives from the surnames 'Du Chene or Duchesne', These are topographical surnames of uncertain meaning. The literal translation is 'heart of oak' and it maybe that the name referred to men of great strength or perhaps loyalty, or the names may have been residential for those living by a particularly striking oak tree or even a forest of oaks. It is said that the status word 'Duke' or in French 'Duc' derives from the same source. In this case the original spellings were Du Chene, Duchesne, Duchesner, Ducher, Duchier, and Ducheron, whilst the spelling in England has been given the familiar 'sounds like' treatment meted out to all foreign visitors even today. It seems to be recorded as Dickerline, Duckering and Duckerin, but there are or no doubt were, other spellings as well which we have not traced in our research. Early examples of the recordings include Elias Dickerline at St Katherines Greechurch, London, on June 8th 1729, and Thomas Duckerin, whose daughter Emma, was christened at Barnet, Middlesex, on February 26th 1843. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jean du Chesne, which was dated May 26th 1689, a witness at Threadneedle Street French church, London, during the reign of King James 11, known as 'The last catholic monarch', 1685 - 1689. 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.

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