NameCensus.

UK surname

Dobb

A surname derived from a variant of the Middle English word "dobbe," meaning a small pool or body of water.

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Dobb surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 541, ranked #9,407, down from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Skegby, Misson and Breage. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mansfield, Bassetlaw and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dobb is 574 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.7%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

541

2016, ranked #9,407

Peak year

2002

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dobb had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016, ranked #9,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 501 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dobb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dobb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dobb 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 345 #6,823
1861 historical 456 #5,692
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 466 #7,861
1901 historical 491 #8,160
1911 historical 501 #7,820
1997 modern 533 #8,871
1998 modern 555 #8,866
1999 modern 545 #9,044
2000 modern 554 #8,898
2001 modern 537 #8,963
2002 modern 574 #8,697
2003 modern 564 #8,679
2004 modern 556 #8,794
2005 modern 530 #9,054
2006 modern 535 #9,007
2007 modern 547 #8,941
2008 modern 535 #9,155
2009 modern 563 #8,999
2010 modern 555 #9,305
2011 modern 548 #9,300
2012 modern 529 #9,461
2013 modern 538 #9,514
2014 modern 545 #9,461
2015 modern 542 #9,436
2016 modern 541 #9,407

Geography

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Where Dobbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Skegby, Misson, Breage, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Wickersley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mansfield, Bassetlaw and Ashfield. 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 Skegby Nottinghamshire
2 Misson Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Breage Cornwall
4 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
5 Wickersley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mansfield 002 Mansfield
2 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
3 Ashfield 006 Ashfield
4 Ashfield 002 Ashfield
5 Mansfield 001 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dobb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dobb

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dobb, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Dobb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dobb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dobb is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dobb is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dobb falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dobb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dobb

The surname DOBB is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "dobbe," meaning a small pool or body of water. It dates back to the 12th century and was initially used as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a small pond or marshy area.

This surname was most prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England, where such geographic features were abundant. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Ricardus de la Dobbe."

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded in various forms, such as "atte Dobbe," "de la Dobbe," and "del Dob," reflecting the locative prefix and the evolving spelling conventions of the time. Some of these variants suggest a close association with specific places, possibly indicating the name's origin from a particular location.

The Domesday Book, the remarkable survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname DOBB. However, it does mention several place names with similar roots, such as "Dobbenei" and "Dobbeneia," which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable individual bearing the surname DOBB was John Dobb (c. 1550-1628), an English theologian and Church of England clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. His sermons and writings on religious matters were influential during his time.

Another significant figure was Sir Richard Dobb (1588-1663), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He played a crucial role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause and serving as a colonel in the army of Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, Martha Dobb (1720-1799) gained recognition as a talented artist specializing in portraiture. Her works were admired by the English gentry, and some of her paintings are still preserved in various collections.

During the 19th century, Henry Dobb (1807-1874) made his mark as a prominent architect in London. He designed several notable buildings, including churches and public structures, and his work contributed to the city's architectural landscape.

More recently, Charles Dobb (1904-1976) was a British economist and academic who taught at the University of Cambridge. His influential writings on the history of economic thought and his critiques of capitalist systems earned him widespread recognition in scholarly circles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dobb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dobb 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 87 Dobbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.92x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 87 16.92x
Yorkshire 79 2.09x
Lancashire 71 1.57x
Devon 58 7.31x
Cornwall 39 9.03x
Derbyshire 16 2.68x
Middlesex 14 0.37x
Surrey 9 0.48x
Lincolnshire 7 1.15x
Caernarfonshire 5 3.24x
Dorset 2 0.80x
Kent 2 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.20x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skegby in Nottinghamshire leads with 37 Dobbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1174.60x.

Place Total Index
Skegby 37 1174.60x
Sutton In Ashfield 20 179.21x
Breage 18 456.85x
Rotherham 17 79.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 12.13x
Fremington 12 745.34x
Paddington London 12 8.56x
Kingsteignton 10 452.49x
Helston 9 200.45x
Wickersley 9 857.14x
Hucknall Torkard 8 61.35x
Oldham 8 5.48x
Egham 7 61.35x
Epworth 7 246.48x
Walton On Hill 7 28.55x
Alfreton 6 33.08x
Doncaster 6 21.73x
East Teignmouth 6 184.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 7.80x
Liverpool 6 2.18x
Misson 6 674.16x
Armthorpe 5 980.39x
Bangor 5 33.62x
Bishops Tawton 5 201.61x
Everton 5 3.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 8.18x
Rufford 5 1162.79x
Tawstock 5 354.61x
Worksop 5 32.79x
Abram 4 115.27x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 4 88.69x
Balne 4 851.06x
Boroughbridge 4 314.96x
Camborne 4 22.48x
Dalton In Furness 4 22.90x
Eckington 4 27.57x
Farnworth 4 14.75x
Plymouth Charles The 4 11.44x
Rawmarsh 4 29.96x
Scarborough 4 11.65x
Wigan 4 6.32x
Ashton In Makerfield 3 23.27x
Batley 3 8.35x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.56x
St Pinnock 3 454.55x
Blackwell 2 68.26x
Bolsover 2 66.89x
Dawlish 2 33.78x
Golborne 2 33.90x
Gorton 2 4.70x
Greenwich 2 3.29x
Ince In Makerfield 2 9.50x
Instow 2 232.56x
Mansfield 2 11.24x
Nuthall 2 103.63x
Selston 2 34.84x
St Cleer 2 53.48x
Wareham Lady St Mary 2 103.63x
West Down 2 289.86x
West Teignmouth 2 32.95x
Barnstaple 1 8.03x
Bradfield 1 6.86x
Bulwell 1 8.94x
Dalton In Rotherham 1 188.68x
Derby St Werburgh 1 2.90x
Edmonton 1 3.25x
Edwinstowe 1 81.97x
Kenwyn 1 8.86x
Kirkdale 1 1.31x
Lambeth 1 0.30x
North Meols 1 2.26x
Potter Newton 1 14.99x
Scilly Islands St Mary 1 59.17x
Shute 1 131.58x
Snenton 1 4.95x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.49x
Thorne 1 21.32x
Tormoham 1 2.98x
Toxteth Park 1 0.65x
Whitwell 1 42.19x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 23
Thomas 20
James 15
George 14
Richard 11
Samuel 11
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Charles 7
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Walter 2
Abel 1
Benjamin 1
Erlam 1
Frank 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Luther 1
Richd. 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Dobb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dobb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Dobb surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dobb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016. That gives Dobb a modern rank of #9,407.

What does the Dobb surname mean?

A surname derived from a variant of the Middle English word "dobbe," meaning a small pool or body of water.

What does the Dobb map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dobb 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.