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

Dossett, 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 Dossett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dossett in America

Dossett is the 12842nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dossett surname appeared 2,397 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 Dossett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dossett 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 Dossett

The surname Dossett has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English word "dossett," which referred to a thicket or small wooded area. It is likely that the name was initially a descriptive one, given to someone who lived near or worked in such a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dossett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1195, where it appears as "Dosset." This suggests that the name had already been in use for some time before the turn of the 13th century.

The Dossett family is believed to have originated in the county of Staffordshire, particularly in the areas around Lichfield and Tamworth. In the 13th century, the name was also found in records from Warwickshire and Worcestershire, indicating the family's spread across the West Midlands region.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Dossett, Dosset, Dossitt, and Dossit. These variations likely arose from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable individual bearing the Dossett surname was John Dossett, a Quaker who was born in 1660 in Wiltshire. He was a prominent figure in the early Quaker movement and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the period.

Another individual of note was Robert Dossett, who was born in Warwickshire in 1725. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with creating some of the finest clocks of the 18th century, which are now highly sought after by collectors.

In the 19th century, William Dossett (1812-1890) was a prominent businessman and landowner in Staffordshire. He played a significant role in the development of the local community and was instrumental in the establishment of several philanthropic institutions.

The Dossett family also had a presence in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Thomas Dossett, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. His descendants went on to settle in various parts of the country, contributing to the spread of the name across the American colonies.

Another notable figure was Mary Dossett (1768-1853), a Quaker from Pennsylvania who was known for her advocacy of abolition and women's rights. She was an active participant in the Underground Railroad, helping to shelter and transport enslaved individuals seeking freedom.

Throughout its history, the surname Dossett has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, clockmaking, and business. While not among the most common surnames, it has left its mark on the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions to their respective fields and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dossett

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

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

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

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