The Dillard Family History

What Does the Dillard Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Dillard has roots in both English and Irish heritage, deriving from the Middle English components ‘dull’ and ‘ard,’ which denote a person of limited intellect. Variations of the name include Dillardt, Dollart, Dilard, Dollard, Dillards, and Dolard. In England, the Dillard surname is distributed in a modest manner, with its earliest bearers having migrated from France to the Wiltshire area. Over time, a significant number of these families relocated to regions such as Yorkshire, Devon, London, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire. In Scotland, Lanarkshire serves as the primary hub for individuals carrying the Dillard surname. In the United States, the Dillard name is predominantly found in the southern states, with a notably high concentration in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Among prominent individuals with the Dillard surname are Annie Dillard, an acclaimed author who received the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction; Jarett Dillard, a professional football player; Richard H. Dillard, a poet; Mickey Dillard, a professional baseball player; Victoria Dillard, a television actress; Doug Dillard, a renowned banjo musician; John Dillard, a pioneer in Buncombe County, North Carolina, who later founded the town of Dillard in Georgia; William T. Dillard, the founder of Dillard’s Department Store; Steve Dillard, also a professional baseball player; and George Dillard, who was born in Wiltshire, England, and became an early settler in the Virginia Colony in 1650.