NameCensus.

UK surname

Dobos

A surname originating from Hungary referring to a drummer.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Corby, Gedling and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dobos is 142 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2016

142 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dobos surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dobos surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dobos 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
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 19 #35,928
1998 modern 19 #36,009
1999 modern 21 #35,810
2000 modern 26 #35,295
2001 modern 24 #35,357
2002 modern 19 #35,991
2003 modern 19 #36,011
2004 modern 16 #36,439
2005 modern 20 #36,165
2006 modern 23 #36,054
2007 modern 29 #35,725
2008 modern 46 #34,759
2009 modern 53 #34,481
2010 modern 67 #33,713
2011 modern 74 #33,151
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Dobos' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Corby, Gedling, Brent, Bedford and Enfield. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Corby 006 Corby
2 Gedling 009 Gedling
3 Brent 001 Brent
4 Bedford 013 Bedford
5 Enfield 036 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dobos

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dobos

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dobos surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dobos household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dobos is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Dobos 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

Dobos falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dobos is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dobos

The surname Dobos has its origins in Hungary, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "dobos," which means "drummer" or "someone who plays the drum." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals whose occupation was related to drumming or music.

The earliest recorded instances of the Dobos surname can be found in various Hungarian historical records and documents from the Middle Ages. One notable example is the mention of a person named Petrus Dobos in a 14th-century document from the town of Buda, which was then the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dobos name gained prominence in the Transylvanian region of modern-day Romania, which was at the time part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged during this period, including János Dobos, a Hungarian nobleman and military leader who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the late 16th century.

Another historical figure of note was György Dobos, a Hungarian Lutheran pastor and writer who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his work in translating and publishing religious texts, contributing to the spread of Protestantism in the region.

In the 19th century, the Dobos surname was associated with the city of Debrecen, a major cultural and educational center in eastern Hungary. One of the most famous individuals with this name was József Dobos, a Hungarian confectioner who invented the iconic Dobos torte, a layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream filling, in 1885.

Throughout history, variations of the Dobos surname have also been recorded, such as Doboss, Dobosy, and Dobosi, reflecting regional linguistic differences and spelling variations within Hungary and the surrounding areas.

While the Dobos surname is predominantly Hungarian in origin, it has also been found in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage between different ethnic groups over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dobos surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dobos surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Dobos a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Dobos surname mean?

A surname originating from Hungary referring to a drummer.

What does the Dobos map show?

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