NameCensus.

UK surname

Dootson

Of English origin, a habitational name derived from a place name referring to someone from Dootson.

In the 1881 census there were 437 people recorded with the Dootson surname, ranking it #7,472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 638, ranked #8,294, down from #7,472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Dean and Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dootson is 686 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.0%.

1881 census count

437

Ranked #7,472

Modern count

638

2016, ranked #8,294

Peak year

2002

686 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dootson had 437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016, ranked #8,294.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 631 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dootson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dootson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dootson 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 250 #9,877
1881 historical 437 #7,472
1891 historical 542 #6,971
1901 historical 573 #7,321
1911 historical 631 #6,581
1997 modern 631 #7,854
1998 modern 647 #7,939
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 665 #7,799
2001 modern 677 #7,551
2002 modern 686 #7,633
2003 modern 670 #7,656
2004 modern 630 #8,028
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 606 #8,223
2007 modern 628 #8,068
2008 modern 634 #8,060
2009 modern 649 #8,085
2010 modern 655 #8,190
2011 modern 650 #8,155
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 648 #8,238
2014 modern 651 #8,244
2015 modern 644 #8,260
2016 modern 638 #8,294

Geography

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Where Dootsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Dean, Leigh, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton and Wigan. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Dean Lancashire
3 Leigh Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 014 Bolton
2 Bolton 017 Bolton
3 Bolton 007 Bolton
4 Bolton 004 Bolton
5 Wigan 029 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dootson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dootson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Dootson 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

Dootson is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dootson 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 Dootson 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dootson

The surname DOOTSON originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "dott" meaning a clump or hill, and "sunu" meaning son. It was likely an occupational surname given to someone who lived on or near a small hill or raised ground.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is rendered as "Richard Dotesune". This suggests the name was already established in the region by the 13th century.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, a Thomas Dottesone is mentioned, indicating the name had spread to other parts of southern England by that time. The variations in spelling such as Dottesone and Dotesune were common during this era before standardized spellings became more widespread.

The Dootson name is also found in the ancient Domesday Book of 1086, though the exact spelling varies slightly as "Dotesun". This influential record from the time of William the Conqueror confirms the name's early origins in Saxon England.

Notable individuals with the Dootson surname include William Dootson (1635-1701), an English landowner and wool merchant from Yorkshire. John Dootson (1772-1845) was a pioneering educator who established several schools in Lancashire during the early 19th century.

Mary Dootson (1804-1878) was a celebrated botanical illustrator from Derbyshire, renowned for her intricate drawings of plants and flowers. Her work is housed in the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

In the literary world, Henry Dootson (1858-1932) was a prolific author and journalist who wrote extensively on topics of history, travel and culture in the late Victorian era.

Finally, Edmund Dootson (1891-1976) was a highly decorated British Army officer who served with distinction in both World War I and World War II, earning the Military Cross and other honors for his bravery and leadership.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dootson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dootson 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. Lancashire leads with 427 Dootsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 427 8.54x
Surrey 5 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westhoughton in Lancashire leads with 112 Dootsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 839.58x.

Place Total Index
Westhoughton 112 839.58x
Atherton 47 258.24x
Hindley 34 159.47x
Westleigh 29 255.28x
Great Bolton 18 27.18x
Abram 16 416.67x
Halliwell 16 87.91x
Bedford 12 114.72x
Farnworth 12 40.05x
Pilkington 12 63.19x
Horwich 11 201.83x
Radcliffe 10 41.49x
Rumworth 10 139.86x
Little Bolton 9 14.00x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 9 62.54x
Failsworth 8 69.93x
Cheetham 7 18.77x
Hulme 7 6.71x
Lostock 7 619.47x
Openshaw 7 29.89x
Over Hulton 7 492.96x
Manchester 5 2.22x
Streatham 5 15.99x
Harwood 4 153.26x
Denton 2 18.05x
Elton 2 11.57x
Little Lever 2 31.30x
Middle Hulton 2 67.57x
Wigan 2 2.86x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 7.02x
Breightmet 1 45.45x
Haughton 1 13.72x
Haydock 1 11.60x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.68x
Preston 1 0.75x
Salford 1 0.68x
Standish With Langtree 1 16.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 17
Alice 15
Ellen 15
Margaret 14
Ann 11
Hannah 10
Sarah 10
Jane 9
Martha 6
Betty 5
Annie 4
Eliza 3
Esther 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Janet 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elisebeth 1
Elizh.Ann 1
Elizth. 1
Elley 1
Emma 1
Ermina 1
Estha 1
Harriett 1
Hatie 1
Infant 1
Leah 1
Lillian 1
Maggie 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 36
James 26
Thomas 19
William 19
Henry 9
Peter 9
Richard 9
Joseph 6
Wm. 6
Adam 4
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Thos. 4
David 3
Edward 3
Isaiah 3
Ralph 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
George 2
Jessie 2
Jno. 2
Alfd. 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Dan 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jno.R. 1
Jonas 1
Josiah 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Walker 1

FAQ

Dootson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dootson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 437 people were recorded with the Dootson surname. That placed it at #7,472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dootson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016. That gives Dootson a modern rank of #8,294.

What does the Dootson surname mean?

Of English origin, a habitational name derived from a place name referring to someone from Dootson.

What does the Dootson map show?

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