NameCensus.

UK surname

Dabson

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Daveson, possibly a patronymic meaning "son of David."

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Dabson surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringmer, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Canterbury and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dabson is 339 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.4%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1861

339 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dabson had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 339 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dabson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dabson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dabson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dabson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 160 #12,347
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 224 #13,760
1901 historical 143 #18,570
1911 historical 143 #18,401
1997 modern 92 #28,079
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Dabsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringmer, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Newcastle All Saints, Monkwearmouth and Smarden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Canterbury, Gwynedd and Wiltshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ringmer Sussex
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Monkwearmouth Durham
5 Smarden Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 003 Lewes
2 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
3 Gwynedd 014 Gwynedd
4 Canterbury 007 Canterbury
5 Wiltshire 017 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dabson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dabson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dabson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dabson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Dabson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dabson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Dabson is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dabson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dabson falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dabson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dabson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dabson

The surname Dabson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a now-lost or unidentified place name. The name may have evolved from an Old English phrase meaning "the valley of the dab," with "dab" referring to a small fish or a flat stone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dabson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1196, where a William Dabson is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, a certain Robert Dabson was recorded as a landowner in the village of Weston-on-Trent, Derbyshire. This Robert Dabson is believed to have been a descendant of the aforementioned William Dabson, indicating the family's continued presence in the Midlands during this period.

The Dabson name appears to have spread throughout various parts of England in the centuries that followed. In the early 15th century, a John Dabson was recorded as a merchant in the city of Bristol, suggesting that members of the family had ventured into urban trades and commerce.

Notable individuals with the surname Dabson include Sir William Dabson (1562-1628), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another noteworthy figure was Reverend Thomas Dabson (1678-1744), a respected clergyman and author who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Guildford, Surrey.

In the 18th century, the Dabson family gained recognition through the exploits of Captain James Dabson (1721-1789), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War. His son, Admiral Henry Dabson (1754-1824), also had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars.

As the centuries progressed, the Dabson name continued to be present in various parts of England, with individuals from this family making contributions in various fields, including academia, the arts, and public service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dabson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dabson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 35 Dabsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 35 44.35x
Kent 5 3.13x
Norfolk 3 4.17x
Durham 2 1.44x
Lancashire 1 0.18x
Warwickshire 1 0.85x
Yorkshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ringmer in Sussex leads with 17 Dabsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7727.27x.

Place Total Index
Ringmer 17 7727.27x
Framfield 8 3333.33x
Hastings All Sts 4 540.54x
West Firle 4 4444.44x
Cobham 3 2000.00x
Gateshead 2 19.19x
Norwich St Peter 2 425.53x
Aston 1 3.08x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 23.15x
Burmarsh 1 3333.33x
Hastings St Clement 1 135.14x
Heigham 1 25.91x
Lewes All Sts 1 322.58x
Margate St John Baptist 1 34.25x
Toxteth Park 1 5.32x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dabson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Mary 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Eliza 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Thecrine 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dabson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Thomas 5
George 3
John 3
William 3
Charles 2
Henry 2
Arthur 1
Frenoy 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dabson households.

FAQ

Dabson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dabson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Dabson surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dabson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Dabson a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Dabson surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Daveson, possibly a patronymic meaning "son of David."

What does the Dabson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dabson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.