NameCensus.

UK surname

Dobbins

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept horses or worked with them.

In the 1881 census there were 545 people recorded with the Dobbins surname, ranking it #6,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 934, ranked #6,122, up from #6,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes and Corse. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Worcester, Cheshire West and Chester and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dobbins is 989 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.4%.

1881 census count

545

Ranked #6,339

Modern count

934

2016, ranked #6,122

Peak year

2002

989 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dobbins had 545 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 934 in 2016, ranked #6,122.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 735 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dobbins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dobbins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dobbins 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 406 #5,963
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 545 #6,339
1891 historical 685 #5,716
1901 historical 735 #6,027
1911 historical 703 #6,067
1997 modern 946 #5,739
1998 modern 988 #5,724
1999 modern 969 #5,856
2000 modern 972 #5,829
2001 modern 965 #5,752
2002 modern 989 #5,752
2003 modern 940 #5,882
2004 modern 932 #5,917
2005 modern 933 #5,861
2006 modern 931 #5,881
2007 modern 922 #5,981
2008 modern 929 #5,989
2009 modern 963 #5,946
2010 modern 968 #6,032
2011 modern 951 #6,070
2012 modern 913 #6,184
2013 modern 942 #6,125
2014 modern 954 #6,107
2015 modern 943 #6,102
2016 modern 934 #6,122

Geography

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Where Dobbins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes, Corse, Tardebigg and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Worcester, Cheshire West and Chester, Caerphilly, Wirral and Bridgend. 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 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Corse Gloucestershire
4 Tardebigg Worcestershire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Worcester 010 Worcester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 005 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly
4 Wirral 016 Wirral
5 Bridgend 010 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dobbins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dobbins

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dobbins is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dobbins is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dobbins 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 Dobbins 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 Dobbins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dobbins

The surname Dobbins has its origins in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dobb," which referred to a small hill or mound, and was likely used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a person named Reginald Dobbin is mentioned. This suggests that the name was present in Yorkshire during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, including Dobbyn, Dobyn, and Dobbyn, indicating variations in spelling and pronunciation. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals named Roger Dobbin and William Dobbyn, both from the county of Oxfordshire.

During the 14th century, the name Dobbins started to gain more prominence. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Dobbyn from the county of Sussex, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 mention a Thomas Dobbyn from Yorkshire.

In the 15th century, the name Dobbins continued to be found in various parts of England. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1436 record a John Dobbins from the county of Warwickshire. Additionally, in the same century, a notable individual named William Dobbins (c. 1455 - 1535) served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Gloucester.

As the centuries progressed, the name Dobbins spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. In the 16th century, a well-known figure was James Dobbins (c. 1520 - 1587), an English merchant and explorer who established trade routes with West Africa.

In the 17th century, the name Dobbins can be found in various historical records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, which mention a John Dobbins from the county of Worcestershire. Additionally, a famous individual named Thomas Dobbins (1642 - 1711) was a prominent Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania.

The 18th century saw the name Dobbins continue to be widely used across England and the British colonies. One notable figure from this period was William Dobbins (1759 - 1829), an American naval officer who served during the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812.

In the 19th century, the surname Dobbins was further spread across the globe through emigration and exploration. A notable individual from this era was John Dobbins (1809 - 1876), an Irish-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration of the Australian outback.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dobbins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dobbins 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. Worcestershire leads with 91 Dobbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.23x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 91 13.23x
Gloucestershire 84 8.13x
Herefordshire 52 24.08x
Lancashire 40 0.64x
Middlesex 40 0.76x
Warwickshire 36 2.71x
Durham 29 1.85x
Lanarkshire 26 1.53x
Yorkshire 24 0.46x
Staffordshire 18 1.01x
Cumberland 17 3.75x
Surrey 14 0.55x
Ayrshire 13 3.30x
Glamorgan 13 1.42x
Renfrewshire 10 2.45x
Cheshire 8 0.69x
Monmouthshire 5 1.31x
Lincolnshire 4 0.47x
Midlothian 4 0.57x
Somerset 3 0.35x
West Lothian 2 2.52x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.31x
Stirlingshire 1 0.51x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redditch in Worcestershire leads with 30 Dobbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.05x.

Place Total Index
Redditch 30 215.05x
Aston 18 4.92x
Claines 15 79.45x
Huntley 15 1948.05x
Corse 13 1382.98x
Handsworth 12 27.38x
Hereford St Peter 12 207.97x
Leeds 12 4.07x
Kidderminster Borough 11 27.32x
Birmingham 10 2.26x
Liverpool 10 2.63x
Newent 10 190.48x
Riccarton Hurlford 10 144.72x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 13.26x
Houghton Le Spring 9 83.10x
Linton In Newent 9 538.92x
Whitehaven 9 37.24x
Gorton 8 13.61x
Old Monkland 8 11.83x
Poplar London 8 8.05x
Roath 8 19.20x
Aston Ingham 7 985.92x
Everton 7 3.51x
Fulham London 7 9.16x
Paisley Middle Church 7 29.45x
Blantyre 6 33.82x
Bothwell 6 12.99x
Cockermouth 6 62.83x
Flaxley 6 258.62x
Harpurhey 6 69.20x
Redmarley 6 333.33x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 26.30x
Walford 6 279.07x
Willington 6 66.23x
Bromley London 5 4.31x
Ecclesfield 5 13.07x
Manchester 5 1.78x
Pencoyd 5 1388.89x
Staunton 5 675.68x
Stroud 5 24.88x
Aberystruth 4 11.92x
Ashton On Mersey 4 66.56x
Cheltenham 4 5.02x
Coleshill 4 93.90x
Gloucester St Nicholas 4 83.68x
Islington London 4 0.78x
Newcastle Higher 4 64.21x
Newington 4 2.06x
Ruardean 4 170.94x
St Maryle Wigford 4 61.16x
Worcester St Nicholas 4 122.70x
Bedminster 3 3.77x
Birtsmorton 3 576.92x
Blockley 3 77.12x
Broadway 3 101.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.06x
Neilston 3 14.64x
Peterstow 3 447.76x
Sheffield 3 1.81x
Smallthorne 3 45.45x
Southwark St John 3 18.62x
Southwark St Saviour 3 11.08x
St Pancras London 3 0.71x
St Quivox 3 22.51x
Ardwick 2 3.55x
Barony 2 0.46x
Berrow 2 298.51x
Bristol St James In 2 13.17x
Cheadle 2 9.01x
Childs Wyckham 2 246.91x
Evesham All Sts 2 62.31x
Gosforth 2 90.50x
Hentland 2 192.31x
Ledbury 2 26.95x
Limehouse London 2 3.46x
Little Dewchurch 2 338.98x
Luddington 2 1052.63x
Seaham 2 35.03x
Wandsworth 2 3.94x
Worcester St Martin 2 21.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 14
Ann 13
Ellen 10
Florence 9
Jane 9
Alice 8
Annie 8
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Fanny 5
Margaret 5
Charlotte 4
Louisa 4
Selina 4
Clara 3
Elizh. 3
Emily 3
Julia 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Adelaide 2
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Hariett 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Margrett 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Cathrine 1
Christiana 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Elizth. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 30
George 14
James 14
Thomas 12
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Ernest 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Christopher 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Robert 3
Daniel 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Cornelus 1
Darrun 1
Dick 1
Edmond 1
Elias 1
Emanuel 1
Evelyn 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Frederck 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Robt. 1
Hary 1
Hiram 1
Hy.Albert 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Patrick 1
Reuben 1
Richd 1
Samuel 1
Shepherd 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Dobbins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dobbins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 545 people were recorded with the Dobbins surname. That placed it at #6,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dobbins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 934 in 2016. That gives Dobbins a modern rank of #6,122.

What does the Dobbins surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept horses or worked with them.

What does the Dobbins map show?

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