Dobkin
A Russian surname derived from the word "doba" meaning "felled tree", possibly referring to an occupation related to forestry or logging.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Dobkin. That puts it at #42,579 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dobkin 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,579
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
509
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 509 bearers of the surname Dobkin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42579th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dobkin
The surname Dobkin originates from Eastern Europe, particularly Russia and Ukraine. It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, derived from the Russian word "doba," meaning "epoch" or "time period," and the diminutive suffix "-kin," indicating a connection or affiliation.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Velvet Book, a 16th-century Russian genealogical record. It mentions a noble family named Dobkin residing in the city of Novgorod. This suggests that the surname was already established among the Russian aristocracy by that time.
In the 17th century, the Dobkin surname appeared in various historical documents from the region, including church records and census data. For instance, Ivan Dobkin, a merchant from the city of Smolensk, is mentioned in a trade register from 1672.
The name Dobkin may also have roots in the Ukrainian language, where the word "doba" means "day" or "daily cycle." This could indicate that the surname initially referred to someone associated with a specific time or daily routine, such as a timekeeper or a worker with a particular daily task.
Notably, there are several places in Russia and Ukraine that share similar names, such as the village of Dobkino in the Tver region of Russia and the town of Dobkivtsi in western Ukraine. These place names could have influenced the development and spread of the Dobkin surname.
Among notable individuals with the Dobkin surname, one can mention:
1. Yakov Dobkin (1892-1937), a Russian revolutionary and Bolshevik leader.
2. Lev Dobkin (born 1945), a Russian-American physicist and author.
3. Mikhail Dobkin (1865-1936), a Russian architect known for his work in Moscow.
4. Nadezhda Dobkina (1920-2018), a Soviet and Russian chess player and International Master.
5. Gennady Dobkin (born 1952), a Ukrainian businessman and politician.
The Dobkin surname has a rich history rooted in Eastern European cultures and can be traced back to various historical records and notable individuals throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dobkin
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Dobkin 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 Dobkin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Unknown or suppressed1.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dobkin 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,444 | #42,579 | -7.9% |
| Count | 525 | 509 | -3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.19 | 0.17 | -10.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dobkin bearers went from 525 to 509 (-3.0% change). The surname moved down 3,135 positions in the national ranking, going from #39,444 to #42,579.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dobkin
FAQ
Dobkin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dobkin?
The surname Dobkin holds position #42,579 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dobkin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dobkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%). 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.