Dotson
Son of Dott, a diminutive form of Dorothy or another name.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Dotson. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dotson today is around 91 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dotson births was 1932 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dotson. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Dotson is about 91 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dotsons were born before 1945.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dotson. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1932
8 babies that year
Average age
91
years old
1939 SSA rank
#3,624
Tracked since 1928
Popularity
Dotson: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dotson from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 26 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dotson by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dotson during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dotson
The name Dotson is an English given name with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. Its origins can be traced to a combination of the Old English words "dott" meaning "a small rounded object" and "son" meaning "child" or "descendant." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname given to a child who was small and rounded in appearance.
During the medieval period, the name Dotson was primarily found in the southern regions of England, particularly in the counties of Devon and Cornwall. Historical records from this era indicate that the name was sometimes spelled as "Dottsun" or "Dottson" due to variations in regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dotson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Dotson, who held property in the county of Devon.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Dotson was Sir William Dotson, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I during the Welsh Wars. Sir William was known for his bravery in battle and was awarded lands in the Welsh Marches for his service to the crown.
During the Renaissance period, a prominent individual named Dotson was John Dotson, a renowned playwright and poet who lived in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His works, which included several plays and sonnets, were popular among the literary circles of the time.
In the 18th century, a notable Dotson was Sir Thomas Dotson, a naval officer who served in the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War. He was recognized for his valor in several naval battles against the French and was later promoted to the rank of Admiral.
Another prominent figure with the name Dotson was Robert Dotson, an influential abolitionist and human rights activist who lived in the United States during the 19th century. He was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad, helping to facilitate the escape of numerous enslaved individuals to freedom.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the given name Dotson. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a respected and enduring name with a rich historical legacy.
People
Dotson + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dotson as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dotson: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dotson?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dotson going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Dotson a common name?
We classify Dotson as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 32 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dotson most popular?
The single biggest year for Dotson was 1932, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dotson is about 91 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dotson a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dotson in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.