NameCensus.

UK surname

Dobbs

An English surname derived from the given name Robert, meaning "bright fame."

In the 1881 census there were 2,022 people recorded with the Dobbs surname, ranking it #2,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,002, ranked #2,237, down from #2,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Louth and Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, North East Lincolnshire and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dobbs is 3,200 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

2,022

Ranked #2,177

Modern count

3,002

2016, ranked #2,237

Peak year

2010

3,200 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dobbs had 2,022 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,002 in 2016, ranked #2,237.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,661 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dobbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dobbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dobbs 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 1,172 #2,410
1861 historical 1,234 #2,313
1881 historical 2,022 #2,177
1891 historical 2,111 #2,205
1901 historical 2,486 #2,195
1911 historical 2,661 #1,933
1997 modern 3,002 #2,149
1998 modern 3,108 #2,161
1999 modern 3,154 #2,142
2000 modern 3,101 #2,172
2001 modern 3,016 #2,187
2002 modern 3,113 #2,162
2003 modern 3,014 #2,179
2004 modern 3,008 #2,177
2005 modern 3,013 #2,149
2006 modern 3,011 #2,153
2007 modern 3,054 #2,144
2008 modern 3,061 #2,149
2009 modern 3,121 #2,165
2010 modern 3,200 #2,158
2011 modern 3,127 #2,181
2012 modern 3,049 #2,191
2013 modern 3,064 #2,213
2014 modern 3,088 #2,211
2015 modern 3,027 #2,236
2016 modern 3,002 #2,237

Geography

Back to top

Where Dobbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Louth, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, North East Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Thurrock. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Louth Lincolnshire
3 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
2 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
3 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Thurrock 018 Thurrock

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dobbs

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dobbs

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dobbs is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Dobbs 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dobbs

The surname Dobbs is of English origin, deriving from the Old English personal name "Dobbing" or the place name "Dobbs." It is believed to have emerged in the late 11th or early 12th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest.

Dobbs is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "dubba," which means "a small pit or hollow." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a small pit or depression in the landscape.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Dobbs dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dobbe" in Yorkshire. This entry suggests that the name had already become established in parts of northern England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Dobbs appeared in various records and manuscripts across England. In the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, a person named "Radulfus Dob" is mentioned. Similarly, the Curia Regis Rolls of 1210 reference a "Willelmus Dob."

Notable individuals with the surname Dobbs include Sir Richard Dobbs (1627-1697), an Irish landowner and politician who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1684 to 1685. Another prominent figure was Arthur Dobbs (1689-1765), a colonial administrator and author who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1754 to 1765.

In the literary world, Archibald Edward Dobbs (1838-1884) was an English novelist and playwright, known for works such as "Wilton of Cuthbert's" and "The Daring of Diana." The name also appears in the historical record with individuals like John Dobbs (c. 1470-1521), an English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1520.

The surname Dobbs has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Dobbshill in Warwickshire and Dobbs Lays in Sussex. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname over time.

While the surname Dobbs has a rich history spanning centuries, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times. However, its roots in Old English and its presence in historical records and literature serve as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dobbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dobbs 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. Lincolnshire leads with 335 Dobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.62x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 335 10.62x
Middlesex 182 0.92x
Gloucestershire 170 4.39x
Lancashire 143 0.61x
Yorkshire 136 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 93 3.50x
Surrey 89 0.93x
Monmouthshire 86 6.03x
Derbyshire 74 2.40x
Glamorgan 64 1.86x
Herefordshire 59 7.29x
Staffordshire 59 0.89x
Warwickshire 55 1.11x
Northamptonshire 43 2.32x
Devon 41 1.00x
Worcestershire 40 1.55x
Norfolk 38 1.25x
Hampshire 36 0.89x
Hertfordshire 32 2.35x
Kent 30 0.45x
Leicestershire 29 1.33x
Northumberland 28 0.95x
Cheshire 22 0.51x
Somerset 21 0.66x
Lanarkshire 18 0.28x
Brecknockshire 16 4.05x
Durham 16 0.27x
Essex 11 0.28x
Bedfordshire 8 0.78x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.64x
Sussex 8 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.59x
Shropshire 6 0.35x
Royal Navy 4 1.70x
Wiltshire 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.14x
Oxfordshire 2 0.16x
Angus 1 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.26x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Rutland 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Dean in Gloucestershire leads with 53 Dobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.30x.

Place Total Index
West Dean 53 84.30x
Islington London 27 1.41x
Bozeat 26 322.98x
Nottingham St Mary 26 3.78x
Louth 23 31.81x
Newark Upon Trent 23 24.06x
Westbury On Severn East 22 25.14x
Birmingham 21 1.27x
Newington 21 2.88x
Aston 19 1.39x
Monmouth 19 50.22x
Blackwell 18 118.50x
Hammersmith London 18 3.70x
Heigham 18 11.05x
Leicester St Margaret 18 3.37x
Newland 18 55.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 17 3.32x
Laughton En Le Morthen 17 377.78x
Mynyddyslwyn 17 30.21x
Saltfleetby St Peter 17 772.73x
Lambeth 16 0.93x
Neath 16 22.88x
Trevethin 16 11.88x
Bethnal Green London 15 1.75x
Hulme 15 3.07x
Paddington London 15 2.07x
St Pancras London 15 0.94x
Hackney London 14 1.27x
Tottenham 14 4.45x
Wolverhampton 14 2.73x
Barrow In Furness 13 4.08x
Chepstow 13 53.52x
Keighley 13 6.24x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 13 33.67x
Spalding 13 20.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 3.23x
Great Grimsby 12 5.99x
Liverpool 12 0.84x
Ormesby 12 22.84x
Bolsover 11 71.01x
Churcham 11 318.84x
Huntley 11 381.94x
Peterborough 11 8.19x
Pinchbeck 11 54.40x
Ross 11 34.17x
Southcoates 11 10.13x
Aberdare 10 4.24x
Greenwich 10 3.18x
Holy Trinity 10 2.13x
Moss Side 10 8.12x
Portsea 10 1.26x
Swansea Town 10 3.55x
Welton Le Wold 10 442.48x
Hunsdon 9 252.81x
Hyde 9 7.00x
Kelstern 9 769.23x
Llangunider 9 36.62x
Mattishall 9 148.27x
Rotherhithe 9 3.69x
Sutton In Ashfield 9 15.59x
Bermondsey 8 1.36x
Binbrooke 8 101.78x
Boston 8 8.36x
Crediton 8 20.56x
East Ham 8 11.07x
Lewisham 8 2.23x
Llangarren 8 110.19x
Luton 8 4.52x
North Cerney 8 188.68x
Richmond 8 5.94x
Tathwell 8 280.70x
Theddlethorpe St Helen 8 285.71x
Whittington 8 18.71x
Withcall 8 500.00x
Aswarby 7 795.45x
Clee With Weelsby 7 10.13x
Covenham St Bartholomew 7 429.45x
Monks Coppenhall 7 4.26x
Salford 7 1.02x
Selston 7 23.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 134
John 129
George 104
James 66
Thomas 54
Charles 53
Joseph 47
Henry 35
Alfred 28
Arthur 21
Frederick 21
Samuel 18
Edward 14
Richard 14
Herbert 12
Walter 12
Albert 11
Robert 11
Edwin 9
Harry 8
Fred 7
Stephen 7
David 6
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Geo. 6
Wm. 6
Edgar 5
Thos. 5
Tom 5
Benjamin 4
Francis 4
Fredk. 4
Peter 4
Sidney 4
Archibald 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Luke 3
Matthew 3
Michael 3
Sydney 3
Dennis 2
Jonathan 2
Major 2
Mick 2
Nathaniel 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2

FAQ

Dobbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dobbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,022 people were recorded with the Dobbs surname. That placed it at #2,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dobbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,002 in 2016. That gives Dobbs a modern rank of #2,237.

What does the Dobbs surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name Robert, meaning "bright fame."

What does the Dobbs map show?

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