Dox last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Dox

An English surname possibly derived from a place name containing "dox" or "doc".

Dox, 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 Dox surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dox in America

Dox is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dox surname appeared 179 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 Dox.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dox 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank1007911006630.13%
Count1791667.54%
Proportion per 100k0.060.060.00%

The history of the last name Dox

The surname Dox originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "docke," meaning a small hill or mound. The name was originally associated with individuals who lived near such geographical features.

In its early days, the name appeared in various spellings, including Docke, Dockx, and Docks, reflecting regional dialects and variations. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, where a certain Heinrich Docke was mentioned in 1287.

The Dox surname gained prominence in the 16th century, with notable figures such as Johann Dox (1512-1579), a German Lutheran theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent individual was Hans Dox (1555-1628), a German painter and engraver known for his religious works.

During the 17th century, the name spread across various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. In the Dutch city of Arnhem, records from 1632 mention a Jacob Dox, a prosperous merchant and landowner. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the Dox family established itself in the canton of Bern, with records dating back to 1657.

As the centuries passed, the Dox surname continued to be associated with notable individuals. In the 18th century, Johann Georg Dox (1714-1792) was a renowned German composer and organist, celebrated for his contributions to the development of church music. Another notable figure was Friedrich Dox (1767-1839), a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

In the 19th century, the Dox family expanded its reach, with members settling in various parts of Europe and even venturing to the Americas. One notable individual from this period was Gustav Dox (1832-1891), a German-American engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

While the Dox surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has since been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including religion, art, music, and engineering. The name's rich history and evolution across centuries serve as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dox

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

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 Dox was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only80.45%144
Non-Hispanic Black Only3.35%6
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin13.97%25

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 Dox has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White80.45%84.94%-5.43%
Black3.35%3.01%10.69%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races(S)%(S)%(S)%
Hispanic13.97%9.64%36.68%

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

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

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