Dawber
Derived from the Old French "daubeur" meaning a plasterer or builder.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Dawber. That puts it at #103,181 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dawber surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#103,181
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
174
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 174 bearers of the surname Dawber in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 103181st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawber, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dawber
The surname Dawber originates from England, specifically from the northern English counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name derives from the Old English word "daubere," which referred to a plasterer or someone who applied daub or plaster to timber-framed buildings, a common construction method in those times.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Dawber can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a Richard le Daubere is mentioned. This suggests the name was already in use by the early 14th century. The surname also appears in various tax rolls and parish records from the 15th and 16th centuries, often spelled as Dauber, Dawber, or Daubor, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions of the time.
The Dawber surname is closely linked to the village of Dawbers, located in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire. This place name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "daubere" and "byrig," meaning "the dwelling place of the plasterers." It is likely that the Dawber family established themselves in this area and adopted the name based on their occupation or association with the village.
One notable historical figure with the surname Dawber was Thomas Dawber (1679-1767), an English architect and surveyor who worked extensively in Yorkshire and Lancashire. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including Underley Hall in Cumbria and the Leeds Parish Church.
Another prominent individual was William Dawber (1853-1928), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in the Arts and Crafts style, including St. Mary's Church in Wimbledon and the chapel at Southlands College in London.
In the realm of literature, John Dawber (1920-2003) was an English author and playwright best known for his novels "The Unquiet Grave" and "The Upright Corpse."
Edward Guy Dawber (1830-1917) was a British artist and illustrator who specialized in portraiture and landscape paintings, and his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries.
Robert Dawber (1867-1945) was a British civil engineer and surveyor who made significant contributions to the development of infrastructure in India, serving as the Chief Engineer of the Bombay Port Trust and overseeing major harbor construction projects.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Dawber throughout history, reflecting its origins and connections to various professions and areas of expertise.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dawber
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawber, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Dawber bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Dawber surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dawber surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #103,181 | #103,181 | 0.0% |
| Count | 174 | 174 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dawber bearers went from 174 to 174 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #103,181 to #103,181.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dawber
FAQ
Dawber surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dawber?
The surname Dawber holds position #103,181 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dawber surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawber, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.