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

Dover, 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 Dover surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dover in America

Dover is the 3651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dover surname appeared 9,742 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Dover.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dover 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 Dover

The surname Dover has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is considered a locational name, derived from the place name Dover, which itself comes from the Old English word "dufr," meaning a small stream or brook.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists individuals with variations such as "de Dovere" and "de Dover." These forms suggest that the name initially referred to people who hailed from the town of Dover in Kent, located along the English Channel coast.

During the 13th century, further records emerge, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mention a "William de Dover." This suggests that the name had begun to spread beyond its original geographical location, likely due to migration and relocation of families.

One notable historical figure bearing the name was John Dover (c. 1530-1603), an English poet and playwright who served as a chaplain to several noblemen, including the Earl of Leicester. His works include a poetic translation of the Psalms and a collection of epigrams.

Another individual of note was Robert Dover (c. 1575-1654), an English lawyer and writer who is best remembered for reviving the annual Cotswold Games in Gloucestershire. These games, which included sports, dancing, and revelry, were held annually on Whitsun Thursday and helped preserve traditional English customs and pastimes.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, such as the marriage of Thomas Dover to Elizabeth Smyth in 1618, recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Thomas Dover (1660-1742), an English physician and author who is credited with introducing a popular medicinal powder, known as "Dover's Powder," which contained opium and ipecacuanha.

Another notable figure was Abraham Dover (1731-1799), an English landscape artist and engraver who produced numerous topographical views of English cities and towns, including his birthplace of Canterbury.

While the surname Dover has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, carrying with it the historical legacy of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dover

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

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

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

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