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

Dawe, 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 Dawe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dawe in America

Dawe is the 16427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dawe surname appeared 1,751 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 Dawe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dawe 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 Dawe

The surname Dawe is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Devon in the southwestern part of England during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "daw," which means a jackdaw or a small crow. It is possible that the name was originally a nickname given to someone who had a resemblance to a jackdaw or who exhibited characteristics associated with the bird.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dawe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appears as "Dawe" and is associated with landholdings in the county of Devon.

Over the centuries, the name Dawe has had various spellings, including Daw, Dawe, and Dawes. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or scribal variations in record-keeping. The name is also linked to several place names in the southwestern part of England, such as Dawlish and Dawlish Water, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Dawe was Sir John Dawe (c. 1485 - c. 1555), who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Okehampton in Devon during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Humphrey Dawe (c. 1600 - 1669), who was a prominent lawyer and judge during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period.

In the 18th century, John Dawe (1763 - 1832) was a renowned English painter and engraver, known for his portraiture and historical scenes. His works can be found in various collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Moving into the 19th century, George Dawe (1781 - 1829) was a notable English portrait painter who gained significant recognition for his work in Russia. He was commissioned to paint numerous portraits of Russian nobility and military leaders, including a series of portraits of the participants of the Napoleonic Wars.

Another prominent figure with the surname Dawe was Walter Dawe (1886 - 1973), a British architect who was renowned for his work in the Art Deco style. He designed several iconic buildings in London, including the Piccadilly Theatre and the former London Pavilion.

The surname Dawe has a rich history rooted in the southwestern part of England, and it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, law, art, and architecture. While the name may have originated as a nickname, it has evolved into a distinctive surname with a unique cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dawe

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

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 Dawe 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 Dawe 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 Dawe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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