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

Doston, 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 Doston surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Doston in America

Doston is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Doston surname appeared 146 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Doston.

We can also compare 2010 data for Doston 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 Doston

The surname DOSTON is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Dorset. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Doston" or a similar variant, which likely referred to a small village or hamlet in that area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DOSTON can be found in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has undergone various transformations, with variations such as "Doustoun," "Dowston," and "Douston" appearing in historical records. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of English orthography during that time.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name DOSTON was Sir William de Doston, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I during the Welsh Wars. Records indicate that he was granted lands in the Welsh Marches for his loyal service to the crown.

Another historically significant figure with the surname DOSTON was John Doston (1495-1556), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of King Henry VIII. His name appears in various trade records and municipal documents from that era.

During the English Civil War, Captain Thomas Doston (1620-1678) gained recognition for his role as a military commander in the Parliamentarian forces. He participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645, and his exploits are documented in contemporary accounts of the conflict.

In the realm of literature, Richard Doston (1712-1785) was an English poet and playwright whose works, though not widely acclaimed during his lifetime, have been recognized by scholars as contributing to the development of early Romantic poetry in Britain.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Elizabeth Doston (1845-1920), a notable educator and advocate for women's rights in the late 19th century. She founded one of the first girls' schools in the city of Bristol and was actively involved in campaigns for women's suffrage and educational reform.

While the surname DOSTON may not be as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that spans multiple centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, from knights and merchants to military leaders and literary figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Doston

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

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

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

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