Find out how popular the last name Dash is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dash.

Dash, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dash in America

Dash is the 8599th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dash surname appeared 3,828 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dash to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Dash

The surname Dash is of Anglo-Saxon origin, originating in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "daege," meaning "day," and was likely a nickname given to someone who worked during daylight hours or was known for their punctuality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dash surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Dasche." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Dash surname was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, suggesting the family's presence in that region. Additionally, the name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, indicating its spread across different parts of England.

The Dash surname may also have ties to certain place names, such as Dashwood in Buckinghamshire, which could have influenced its development.

Notable individuals bearing the Dash surname include:

1. Ralph Dash (c. 1480 - 1558), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Southwark during the reign of Queen Mary I.

2. Thomas Dash (c. 1570 - 1631), an English clergyman and scholar who served as Rector of Wolverhampton.

3. Samuel Dash (1925 - 2004), an American lawyer and legal scholar who served as chief counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee during the Watergate scandal.

4. Jeremiah Dash (c. 1689 - 1767), a renowned English clockmaker and inventor from London, known for his contributions to horology.

5. Renee Dash (born 1967), an American actress and singer, best known for her role in the film "Precious" (2009).

The Dash surname has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in an occupational nickname. While the name may have evolved in spelling and distribution over the centuries, it continues to be a part of various cultural and historical narratives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dash

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dash.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dash was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dash has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Dash was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dash, please contact us.

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