UK surname
Derived from a German surname referring to someone living in a valley or low-lying area.
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Dollar surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dalziel and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dollar is 128 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
99
2016, ranked #31,358
Peak year
1861
128 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dollar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dollar surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 118 | #15,362 |
| 1861 | historical | 128 | #17,375 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 92 | #29,040 |
| 2003 | modern | 92 | #28,974 |
| 2004 | modern | 96 | #28,605 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 78 | #31,385 |
| 2007 | modern | 80 | #31,527 |
| 2008 | modern | 82 | #31,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 91 | #31,659 |
| 2013 | modern | 94 | #31,656 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 96 | #31,624 |
| 2016 | modern | 99 | #31,358 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dalziel, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Dalziel | Lanark |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dollar surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dollar, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dollar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dollar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dollar is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dollar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dollar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dollar has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dol," which means "portion" or "share." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who received a particular portion of land or property.
In the early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "Doler," "Doller," and "Dollard." One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a "Henricus le Doler" is mentioned.
The surname Dollar is also associated with certain place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Dollar in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the spelling and usage of the name in that region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Dollar was John Dollar, who was born in Oxfordshire around 1510. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.
Another notable figure was Sir William Dollar (1583-1662), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the reign of Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.
In the 17th century, the surname Dollar gained recognition through the work of John Dollar (1639-1701), a renowned English botanist and horticulturist. He was instrumental in introducing several plant species from the Americas to Europe.
The name Dollar also has connections to the American colonies. One example is Edward Dollar (1684-1744), who emigrated from England to Virginia in the early 1700s and became a prominent landowner and tobacco planter.
During the 18th century, a branch of the Dollar family settled in Scotland, where they made significant contributions to the textile industry. James Dollar (1753-1823) was a successful merchant and textile manufacturer in Glasgow, renowned for his innovative business practices.
Throughout history, the surname Dollar has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, politicians, scientists, and industrialists. While the name may have originated from a humble reference to a portion or share of land, it has since gained recognition and prominence across different sectors and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dollar surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 38 Dollars recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 38 | 12.05x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.23x |
| Renfrewshire | 12 | 15.88x |
| Perthshire | 11 | 25.13x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 3.00x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.72x |
| Stirlingshire | 3 | 8.34x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.63x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.21x |
| Dunbartonshire | 2 | 7.63x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.98x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.37x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.62x |
| Clackmannanshire | 1 | 12.41x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.49x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Dollars recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 13 | 16.66x |
| Eastwood | 11 | 236.05x |
| St George Hanover Square | 11 | 63.99x |
| Dalziel | 9 | 265.49x |
| Barony | 6 | 7.52x |
| Ashe | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 5 | 39.78x |
| Tulliallan | 5 | 675.68x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 7.14x |
| Logie | 4 | 254.78x |
| Cambusnethan | 3 | 42.80x |
| Bothkennar | 2 | 186.92x |
| Clapham | 2 | 16.41x |
| Hamilton | 2 | 22.73x |
| Kirkintilloch | 2 | 56.18x |
| Abbey | 1 | 8.67x |
| Alloa | 1 | 25.58x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 28.90x |
| Dundee | 1 | 2.96x |
| Edinburgh St Andrews | 1 | 92.59x |
| Falkirk | 1 | 11.88x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.83x |
| Kincardine | 1 | 222.22x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.18x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 7.29x |
| Lundy Island | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Perth West Church | 1 | 48.08x |
| Shotts | 1 | 26.46x |
| St Benedict Cambridge | 1 | 285.71x |
| Stockbridge | 1 | 344.83x |
| Sunninghill | 1 | 98.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dollar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dollar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dollar households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Paper Maker | 2 |
| Veterinary Surgeon | 2 |
| (Farmers) Son | 1 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Daur | 1 |
| Discharged Soldier (No Occ) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv (Coachman) | 1 |
| Farmer Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| General Domestic (Sert) | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Job Masters Wife | 1 |
| No Employment | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Salesman Genl | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Dollar surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Dollar a modern rank of #31,358.
Derived from a German surname referring to someone living in a valley or low-lying area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dollar bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.