NameCensus.

UK surname

Doggett

An English occupational surname referring to a person who looks after hunting dogs.

In the 1881 census there were 770 people recorded with the Doggett surname, ranking it #4,802 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,051, ranked #5,546, down from #4,802 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Watford and Waterbeach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Cambridge and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doggett is 1,232 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.5%.

1881 census count

770

Ranked #4,802

Modern count

1,051

2016, ranked #5,546

Peak year

1911

1,232 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doggett had 770 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,802 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,051 in 2016, ranked #5,546.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Doggett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doggett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doggett 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 573 #4,441
1861 historical 489 #5,336
1881 historical 770 #4,802
1891 historical 924 #4,475
1901 historical 1,097 #4,404
1911 historical 1,232 #3,832
1997 modern 1,144 #4,908
1998 modern 1,169 #4,988
1999 modern 1,205 #4,914
2000 modern 1,198 #4,911
2001 modern 1,155 #4,974
2002 modern 1,159 #5,062
2003 modern 1,132 #5,055
2004 modern 1,155 #4,982
2005 modern 1,092 #5,160
2006 modern 1,063 #5,279
2007 modern 1,072 #5,293
2008 modern 1,059 #5,387
2009 modern 1,075 #5,426
2010 modern 1,104 #5,417
2011 modern 1,096 #5,389
2012 modern 1,028 #5,610
2013 modern 1,080 #5,463
2014 modern 1,084 #5,474
2015 modern 1,056 #5,550
2016 modern 1,051 #5,546

Geography

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Where Doggetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Watford, Waterbeach and Oakington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Cambridge, Central Bedfordshire and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Watford Hertfordshire
4 Waterbeach Cambridgeshire
5 Oakington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 011 South Cambridgeshire
2 Cambridge 003 Cambridge
3 Cambridge 001 Cambridge
4 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doggett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doggett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Doggett, 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 Doggett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Doggett 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Doggett is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Doggett is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doggett falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doggett 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 Doggett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Doggett

The surname Doggett has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dogga," which referred to a breed of dog. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational name for a dog handler or someone responsible for taking care of dogs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it is spelled "Dogget." This document mentions a person named Ailwin Dogget. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, spelled as "Doghet."

The Doggett surname is thought to have originated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, where it was initially concentrated. Over time, it spread to other parts of England, particularly in the southern and western regions.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where a Thomas Doggett is mentioned. The London Subsidy Rolls of 1332 also reference a John Doggett.

One notable individual with this surname was Thomas Doggett (c. 1670-1721), an Irish actor and comedian who became famous in London's theatrical circles. He is best known for establishing the Doggett's Coat and Badge race, a rowing competition that has been held annually on the River Thames since 1715.

Another prominent figure was George Doggett (1679-1722), a British playwright and actor who wrote several successful plays, including "The Country Wake" and "The Footman."

In the 19th century, John Doggett (1808-1867) was a notable English cricketer who played for Hampshire and Sussex. He was recognized for his exceptional batting skills and captained both teams during his career.

The name Doggett can also be found in early American records. One example is John Doggett (c. 1676-1752), a merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century and became a prominent figure in the colony.

Additionally, Reverend Simmons H. Doggett (1789-1854) was an American Methodist minister and educator who served as the president of Randolph-Macon College in Virginia from 1836 to 1854.

These examples illustrate the long history and widespread distribution of the Doggett surname, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doggett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doggett 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 174 Doggetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.43x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 174 36.43x
Middlesex 160 2.12x
Hertfordshire 71 13.66x
Surrey 44 1.20x
Gloucestershire 39 2.64x
Suffolk 33 3.59x
Norfolk 27 2.33x
Warwickshire 27 1.42x
Kent 26 1.01x
Bedfordshire 24 6.15x
Somerset 21 1.73x
Staffordshire 19 0.75x
Essex 17 1.14x
Berkshire 14 2.47x
Yorkshire 13 0.17x
Monmouthshire 10 1.83x
Huntingdonshire 8 5.34x
Dorset 5 1.01x
Leicestershire 5 0.60x
Lincolnshire 5 0.41x
Oxfordshire 5 1.07x
Wiltshire 5 0.75x
Derbyshire 4 0.34x
Glamorgan 4 0.30x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Hampshire 3 0.19x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
Westmorland 2 1.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oakington in Cambridgeshire leads with 45 Doggetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3191.49x.

Place Total Index
Oakington 45 3191.49x
Chesterton 38 257.98x
Watford 29 71.96x
St Andrewthe Less 25 45.82x
St Marylebone London 23 5.71x
Clophill 22 769.23x
Hackney London 22 5.20x
Camberwell 20 4.15x
Islington London 18 2.46x
Waterbeach 18 462.72x
Birmingham 17 2.68x
Thornham Parva 17 4857.14x
Kensington London 16 3.82x
Bristol St George 14 20.47x
Harmondsworth 13 277.78x
Rickmansworth 12 83.86x
Limehouse London 10 12.08x
Llanover 10 53.71x
Paddington London 10 3.61x
Tipton 10 12.83x
Aston 9 1.72x
Bedminster 9 7.89x
Hammersmith London 9 4.85x
Kingswinford 9 9.74x
West Ham 9 2.74x
Battersea 8 2.88x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 5.75x
Cottenham 8 125.98x
Horfield 8 53.76x
Harpenden 7 88.27x
Lakenham 7 42.50x
Lee 7 18.74x
St Albans St Michael 7 120.48x
Wakefield 7 12.20x
Weybread 7 397.73x
Bermondsey 6 2.67x
Hornsey 6 6.29x
Sandon 6 304.57x
Bromley 5 12.75x
Clewer 5 21.56x
Corby 5 247.52x
East Ardsley 5 77.28x
Gislingham 5 352.11x
Hethersett 5 170.65x
Impington 5 485.44x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.45x
Newbury 5 27.58x
Plumstead 5 5.83x
St Botolph Aldgate London 5 32.20x
Stanton All Sts 5 471.70x
Westminster St John 5 5.44x
Derby St Werburgh 4 5.87x
Dickleburgh 4 186.92x
Girton 4 320.00x
Haddenham 4 89.09x
Histon 4 160.00x
Huntingdon St John 4 92.17x
Newington 4 1.44x
Newnham 4 1379.31x
Stanton St Michaels 4 2000.00x
Studland 4 254.78x
Swansea Town 4 3.72x
Thetford St Peter 4 131.15x
Bottisham 3 73.71x
Brampton 3 96.15x
Britwell Prior 3 2307.69x
Clifton 3 4.01x
Costessey 3 120.48x
Hampstead London 3 2.55x
Harrow On The Hill 3 19.92x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 32.02x
Holkham 3 215.83x
Mile End Old Town London 3 1.87x
Norton St Philip 3 227.27x
Sarratt 3 165.75x
St Andrewthe Great 3 48.62x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.26x
Swindon 3 5.80x
Tonbridge 3 3.23x
Walthamstow 3 5.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 36
James 25
Thomas 22
George 21
Frederick 18
Charles 17
Henry 17
Arthur 13
Joseph 12
David 10
Alfred 9
Robert 9
Harry 7
Walter 7
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Albert 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Vincent 4
Isaac 3
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Hubert 2
Jabez 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Montague 2
Alferd 1
Arther 1
Ebenezer 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Freadrick 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gaberil 1
Hugh 1
Hurbet 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Wm.Harold 1

FAQ

Doggett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doggett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 770 people were recorded with the Doggett surname. That placed it at #4,802 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doggett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,051 in 2016. That gives Doggett a modern rank of #5,546.

What does the Doggett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who looks after hunting dogs.

What does the Doggett map show?

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