2000
#34,673
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 617
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.23
Very Rare Last name
Dobias
A variant spelling of the Czech and Slovak surname Dobias indicating a person from a place named Dobias.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 768 Americans carry the last name Dobias. That puts it at #36,002 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 446,295 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dobias surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
768
1 in 446,295
Census rank
#36,002
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
670
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 670 bearers of the surname Dobias in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 36002nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobias, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dobias
The surname Dobias has its origins in the Czech Republic, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Czech word "dobiaty," which means "honorable" or "worthy." This name was likely given to individuals who were respected members of their community or who held positions of authority.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dobias can be found in a manuscript from the city of Prague, dated 1387. This document mentions a merchant named Jakub Dobias, who was involved in trade with neighboring regions. The name also appears in various church records and land registries from the 15th and 16th centuries across Bohemia and Moravia.
In the 17th century, a notable figure named Jan Dobias (1609-1679) was a renowned scholar and writer. He authored several works on philosophy and theology, and his writings were widely studied throughout Central Europe. Another individual of note was Karel Dobias (1721-1798), a celebrated architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings in Prague and other cities.
The Dobias surname can also be traced to various place names in the Czech Republic, such as the village of Dobiašovice, which likely contributed to the development of the name. It is possible that some individuals with this surname may have originated from or resided in this area.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Josef Dobias (1823-1891) was a influential politician and advocate for Czech nationalism. He played a crucial role in the development of the Czech language and culture during a time of political upheaval in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Another notable individual was Oldřich Dobias (1875-1940), a celebrated painter and illustrator who was known for his depictions of Czech folklore and landscapes. His works are highly regarded and can be found in numerous galleries and museums throughout the Czech Republic.
While the Dobias surname has its roots in the Czech lands, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diasporas. However, its rich history and connection to the Czech culture and heritage remain firmly embedded in its origins and meaning.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dobias
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobias, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Dobias bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Dobias surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.6% · 614
- Hispanic or Latino4.0% · 27
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 13
- Two or more races1.8% · 12
- Black or African American0.6% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dobias
Dobias appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#45,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 470
-147 bearers (-23.8%)
Per 100,000 0.16
Rank movement Down 10,822 places
2020
#36,002
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 670
+200 bearers (+42.6%)
Per 100,000 0.22
Rank movement Up 9,493 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #34,673 | 617 | 0.23 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #45,495 | 470 | 0.16 | -147 bearers (-23.8%) | Down 10,822 places |
| 2020 | #36,002 | 670 | 0.22 | +200 bearers (+42.6%) | Up 9,493 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Dobias surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #45,495 | #36,002 | 20.9% |
| Count | 470 | 670 | 42.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.22 | 40.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dobias bearers went from 470 to 670 (+42.6% change). The surname moved up 9,493 positions in the national ranking, going from #45,495 to #36,002.
FAQ
Dobias surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dobias?
Name Census estimates that about 768 living Americans carry the surname Dobias. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 446,295 residents.
How common is Dobias?
Dobias ranks #36,002 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 670 people with the surname Dobias. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (768), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.22 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.22 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Dobias.
Has Dobias become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dobias went from 470 recorded bearers to 670. That is an increase of 200 (+42.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #45,495 to #36,002.
What does the Census say about the background of Dobias?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobias, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Dobias in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.6% (614 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dobias appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.6%), Hispanic (4.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Dobias (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Dobias mean?
A variant spelling of the Czech and Slovak surname Dobias indicating a person from a place named Dobias. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Dobias (0.22 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Dobias?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.