Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more

English has a pattern of common patronymic names. For example, “John
Peters” and “John Peterson” are someone whose father was named
“Peter”. (“Peters” should be understood as “Peter’s”.) Similarly we
have John Williams and John Williamson, John Roberts and John
Robertson, John Richards and John Richardson, John James and John
Jameson, John Johns and John Johnson, and so on.

Often Dad’s name was a nickname. For example, a common nickname for
“John” is “Jack” and we have (less commonly) John Jacks and (more
commonly) John Jackson, and John Bills and John Bilson, John Wills and
John Wilson, and John Willis and John Willison are Bill, Will, and
Wille, all short for William.

“Richard” is “Dick”, and we have John Dicks (or Dix) and John Dickson
(or Dixon). “Nicholas” is “Nick” and we have John Nicks (or Nix) and John
Nickson (or Nixon).

Sometimes the name has the diminutive suffix “-kin” inserted. Wilkins
is little Will’s son, as is Wilkinson; Peterkins is little Peter’s