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

Dotts, 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 Dotts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dotts in America

Dotts is the 19551st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dotts surname appeared 1,381 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 Dotts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dotts 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 Dotts

The surname DOTTS has its origins in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "dott," which referred to a small knob or lump, potentially indicating a physical characteristic or occupation of the earliest bearers of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DOTTS surname can be found in the Parish Records of St. Mary's Church in Whitby, Yorkshire, where a certain John Dotts was listed in 1598. This suggests that the name was present in northern England during the late Tudor period.

During the 17th century, variations of the DOTTS surname emerged, such as Dott, Dotte, and Dotts. These alternative spellings were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping at the time. For instance, the Parish Records of St. Nicholas Church in Ipswich, Suffolk, mention a William Dott in 1642.

The DOTTS surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, indicating that its origins are more recent than the Norman Conquest. However, it is possible that the name evolved from an earlier occupation or descriptive surname that has not been documented.

Notable individuals bearing the DOTTS surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Dotts (1662-1728), an English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who established a successful trading company in the East Indies.

2. Elizabeth Dotts (1714-1782), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Warwickshire, who authored a treatise on medicinal plants.

3. Jonathan Dotts (1789-1865), an American soldier who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent farmer in Pennsylvania.

4. Sir William Dotts (1824-1901), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Crimean War and later served as the Governor of the Bahamas.

5. Mary Dotts (1862-1934), an English artist and sculptor known for her portraits and figurative works, influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

While the DOTTS surname may not have achieved widespread fame, its longevity and presence across different regions of England, as well as its eventual spread to other parts of the world, demonstrate its historical significance and enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dotts

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

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

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

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