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

Doctor, 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 Doctor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Doctor in America

Doctor is the 9384th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Doctor surname appeared 3,465 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 Doctor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Doctor 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 Doctor

The surname "DOCTOR" is an occupational name derived from the Latin word "doctor," which means "teacher" or "learned person." It originated in England during the Middle Ages, when education and literacy were rare privileges enjoyed by a select few.

The earliest known record of the DOCTOR surname dates back to the late 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, where a Richard le Doctour was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. This document was a census-like survey of landowners and their properties, ordered by King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the DOCTOR surname appeared in various spellings, such as Doctour, Doctore, and Doctoure, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable example is John Doctour, a prominent cleric and scholar who served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1389.

As the Renaissance period dawned, the DOCTOR surname gained recognition through individuals who made significant contributions to the fields of medicine, theology, and academia. William Doctor (c. 1450-1530), a physician and scholar from Kent, was renowned for his work on medical ethics and the treatment of the plague.

In the 16th century, the DOCTOR surname found its way into the literary world with the playwright and poet Thomas Doctor (c. 1510-1555), whose works explored themes of love, tragedy, and human nature.

During the 17th century, the DOCTOR name was associated with religious figures, such as Samuel Doctor (1628-1696), a Puritan minister and author who played a vital role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The 18th century saw the rise of notable scientists and philosophers bearing the DOCTOR surname. One such figure was Thomas Doctor (1727-1785), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

As the Industrial Revolution swept across England in the 19th century, the DOCTOR surname was carried by individuals who excelled in various professions. Sir John Doctor (1815-1892) was a prominent engineer and inventor, best known for his pioneering work on the development of the modern steam engine.

Throughout its history, the DOCTOR surname has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, united by their pursuit of knowledge, education, and intellectual curiosity. While the name may have evolved over the centuries, its roots remain firmly grounded in the reverence for learning and the pursuit of scholarly endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Doctor

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

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

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

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