UK surname
An English surname derived from the given name Dod or Dodge, meaning "son of Dod or Dodge."
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Dotson surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Bothwell and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dotson is 142 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1891
142 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dotson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dotson surname density by area, 1891 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 76 | #24,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 142 | #18,995 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Bothwell, London parishes, Ibstock and Whitby. 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 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Ibstock | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Whitby | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dotson 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 Dotson, 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 Dotson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dotson 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, Dotson 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 Dotson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dotson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dotson originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English personal name "Dott" combined with the diminutive suffix "-son", meaning "son of Dott". The name Dott itself likely emerged as a nickname or a shortening of longer names beginning with the element "Dod-" or "Dud-", such as Dodkin or Duddeman.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Dotson can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and tax rolls from regions like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Some early spellings of the name included Dotesone, Dotsun, and Dotsone, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.
One notable historical reference to the name Dotson can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain John Dotson is mentioned as a taxpayer. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381 records a land transaction involving a William Dotson.
In the 15th century, the name Dotson appeared in several genealogical records and parish registers. One such example is Robert Dotson, born in 1432 in Lancashire, who was a prominent landowner and benefactor of the local church. Another notable figure was Thomas Dotson (c. 1475-1549), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the city's governance and charitable endeavors.
During the 16th and 17teenth centuries, the Dotson surname continued to spread across England, with instances recorded in various regions. One notable individual from this period was Sir John Dotson (1563-1628), a Member of Parliament and landowner from Wiltshire. Another was Elizabeth Dotson (c. 1590-1670), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Yorkshire, whose knowledge of medicinal plants was highly sought after.
In the 18th century, the name Dotson gained further recognition with individuals like William Dotson (1712-1783), a successful merchant and ship owner based in London, and Mary Dotson (1745-1812), a noted poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry during her lifetime.
As the surname Dotson spread and evolved over the centuries, it also became associated with various place names and localities in England, such as Dotson's Hill in Gloucestershire, Dotson's Field in Oxfordshire, and Dotson's Farm in Hampshire. These place names likely originated from families bearing the Dotson surname who once owned or resided in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dotson 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. Cornwall leads with 14 Dotsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 14 | 42.28x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 2.39x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.00x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.55x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.74x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.81x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.03x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Roseland in Cornwall leads with 13 Dotsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Just In Roseland | 13 | 9285.71x |
| Limehouse London | 4 | 124.61x |
| Northfleet | 2 | 227.27x |
| Arundel | 1 | 357.14x |
| Ashton On Mersey | 1 | 303.03x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 4.07x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 18.52x |
| Creed Grampound | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Fridaythorpe | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 1 | 82.64x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 59.52x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 19.42x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.41x |
| Wawne | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dotson 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 Dotson 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 Dotson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Boatman | 1 |
| Boatman (On Seas) | 1 |
| Chair Caner | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Driver of Mail Cart (Carman) | 1 |
| Gardener (M) | 1 |
| Groom & Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Houskeper Dom | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Posthouse Keeper | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Sick Nurse | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Dotson surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Dotson a modern rank of #35,582.
An English surname derived from the given name Dod or Dodge, meaning "son of Dod or Dodge."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dotson 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.