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

Dobbs, 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 Dobbs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dobbs in America

Dobbs is the 1956th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dobbs surname appeared 18,476 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Dobbs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dobbs 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 Dobbs

The surname Dobbs is of English origin, deriving from the Old English personal name "Dobbing" or the place name "Dobbs." It is believed to have emerged in the late 11th or early 12th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest.

Dobbs is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "dubba," which means "a small pit or hollow." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a small pit or depression in the landscape.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Dobbs dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dobbe" in Yorkshire. This entry suggests that the name had already become established in parts of northern England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Dobbs appeared in various records and manuscripts across England. In the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, a person named "Radulfus Dob" is mentioned. Similarly, the Curia Regis Rolls of 1210 reference a "Willelmus Dob."

Notable individuals with the surname Dobbs include Sir Richard Dobbs (1627-1697), an Irish landowner and politician who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1684 to 1685. Another prominent figure was Arthur Dobbs (1689-1765), a colonial administrator and author who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1754 to 1765.

In the literary world, Archibald Edward Dobbs (1838-1884) was an English novelist and playwright, known for works such as "Wilton of Cuthbert's" and "The Daring of Diana." The name also appears in the historical record with individuals like John Dobbs (c. 1470-1521), an English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1520.

The surname Dobbs has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Dobbshill in Warwickshire and Dobbs Lays in Sussex. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname over time.

While the surname Dobbs has a rich history spanning centuries, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times. However, its roots in Old English and its presence in historical records and literature serve as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dobbs

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

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

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

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