NameCensus.

UK surname

Dobrowolski

A Polish locational surname referring to someone from a place name derived from "dobra wola" meaning "good will".

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Dobrowolski surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 191, ranked #20,194, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Wycombe and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dobrowolski is 195 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6266.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

2015

195 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dobrowolski had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dobrowolski surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dobrowolski surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dobrowolski 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 70 #30,618
1998 modern 67 #31,282
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 67 #31,473
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 81 #30,294
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 161 #22,187
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

Back to top

Where Dobrowolskis 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 Wolverhampton, Wycombe, Kettering, Lambeth and Sefton. 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 Wolverhampton 019 Wolverhampton
2 Wycombe 006 Wycombe
3 Kettering 007 Kettering
4 Lambeth 025 Lambeth
5 Sefton 005 Sefton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dobrowolski

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dobrowolski

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dobrowolski, 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 Dobrowolski surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dobrowolski 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, Dobrowolski 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

Dobrowolski 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dobrowolski

The surname Dobrowolski originated in Poland in the 14th century. It derives from the Polish words "dobro" meaning "good" and "wola" meaning "will" or "desire". The name likely referred to someone with good intentions or a generous spirit.

Dobrowolski is a hereditary Polish surname that first appeared in historical records in the region of Lesser Poland. Early variations of the spelling included Dobrowolsky, Dobrowolsky, and Dobrowolski. The name was found in tax rolls, land grants, and other official documents from that era.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Dobrowolski name was Jan Dobrowolski, a landowner in the village of Dobrowola near Krakow, mentioned in a 1412 deed. Pawel Dobrowolski, a merchant from Lublin, is recorded in a trade registry from 1532.

In the 17th century, the Dobrowolski family established themselves as minor nobility in the Lublin region. Stanislaw Dobrowolski (1605-1671) served as a court official under King Władysław IV Vasa. His grandson, Michal Dobrowolski (1678-1735), fought in the Great Northern War against Sweden.

Notable people with this surname include the 19th century Polish writer and philosopher Tadeusz Dobrowolski (1810-1869), known for his works on ethics and metaphysics. Bronisław Dobrowolski (1894-1975) was a Polish Arctic explorer who led expeditions to Svalbard and Greenland in the 1930s.

Other figures include Kazimierz Dobrowolski (1894-1987), a Polish diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States, and Stanisław Dobrowolski (1904-1966), a noted Polish civil engineer who designed bridges and infrastructure projects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dobrowolski families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dobrowolski 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Dobrowolskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 3 Dobrowolskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.31x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 3 192.31x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Constantine 1
Valentinder 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 Dobrowolski households.

Occupation Count
Music Pubisher 3

FAQ

Dobrowolski surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dobrowolski surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Dobrowolski surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dobrowolski surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Dobrowolski a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Dobrowolski surname mean?

A Polish locational surname referring to someone from a place name derived from "dobra wola" meaning "good will".

What does the Dobrowolski map show?

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