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

Dole, 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 Dole surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dole in America

Dole is the 9884th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dole surname appeared 3,271 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 Dole.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dole 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 Dole

The surname DOLE has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dole," which referred to a portion or share of something, particularly a meadow or land allotment. The name may also be linked to the Old French word "dol," meaning a hilltop or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DOLE appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "de la Dole," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a specific meadow or hillock. The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions several place names with similar spellings, such as Dole in Wiltshire and Doles in Nottinghamshire, which could have influenced the development of the surname.

In the 14th century, the name DOLE is found in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Dole is listed in Yorkshire. During this period, the surname may have been associated with certain occupations or roles related to the distribution or management of land allotments.

One notable figure with the surname DOLE was John Dole (c. 1524-1594), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Ludlow during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Richard Dole (1670-1747), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Boston, Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the early colonial history of New England.

In the 19th century, Robert Dole (1807-1890), an English architect and surveyor, gained recognition for his work on several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary in Nottingham. Additionally, Sanford B. Dole (1844-1926), an American politician and jurist, served as the President of the Republic of Hawaii from 1894 to 1900.

More recently, Robert J. Dole (1923-2022), an American politician and statesman, had a distinguished career as a U.S. Senator from Kansas and was the Republican Party's nominee for President in 1996. His wife, Elizabeth Dole (born 1936), also served as a U.S. Senator and was the first woman to represent North Carolina in that role.

Throughout its history, the surname DOLE has been associated with various locations, occupations, and notable individuals across different parts of the world, reflecting its enduring legacy and diverse origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dole

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

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

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

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