Dawkins
Derived from the Welsh patronymic name "Daw" or "Dawi," meaning "son of David" or "beloved."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 17,926 Americans carry the last name Dawkins. That puts it at #2,363 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.23 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 19,121 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dawkins 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
18K
1 in 19,121
Census rank
#2,363
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
15K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 15,431 bearers of the surname Dawkins in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.23 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2363rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawkins, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.2%. The next largest groups are White (33.3%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dawkins
The surname Dawkins is of English origin, deriving from the Old English personal name "Deowine" or "Deor-wine", which translates to "dear friend" or "beloved friend". The name dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Dawkins can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Deuuine", reflecting the spelling variations common in medieval times.
In the 13th century, the surname Dawkins began to emerge as a more established form, often associated with the place name "Dawkins" in Shropshire, England. This place name likely derived from the Old English "Deor-wine" and the suffix "-ingis", indicating a settlement or estate belonging to someone named Deor-wine.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Dawkins was John Dawkins, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another notable figure was Sir William Dawkins (c. 1460 - 1521), who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire and was involved in the Wars of the Roses.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dawkins family gained prominence in various parts of England, particularly in Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire. Notable individuals from this period include Richard Dawkins (1557 - 1622), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Shropshire, and Walter Dawkins (1597 - 1669), a clergyman and author of religious works.
In the 18th century, Henry Dawkins (1728 - 1814) was a notable English antiquarian and collector of ancient manuscripts and artifacts. He played a significant role in preserving historical records and furthering the study of antiquities.
Moving into the 19th century, Sir Clinton Edward Dawkins (1859 - 1905) was a British diplomat and explorer who conducted extensive archaeological work in Cyprus and Greece, contributing greatly to the understanding of ancient civilizations in the region.
Throughout history, the Dawkins surname has been associated with various notable figures across various fields, including academia, literature, and science. One of the most prominent bearers of the name in modern times is Richard Dawkins (born 1941), the renowned evolutionary biologist, author, and outspoken advocate for atheism and scientific education.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dawkins
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawkins, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.2%. The next largest groups are White (33.3%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Dawkins 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 Dawkins surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American61.2%
- White33.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dawkins 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 | #2,363 | #2,363 | 0.0% |
| Count | 15,431 | 15,431 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.23 | 5.23 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dawkins bearers went from 15,431 to 15,431 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,363 to #2,363.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dawkins
FAQ
Dawkins surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dawkins?
The surname Dawkins holds position #2,363 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 17,926 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.23 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dawkins surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dawkins, the largest self-reported group is Black at 61.2%. The next largest groups are White (33.3%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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.