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

Dumbar, 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 Dumbar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dumbar in America

Dumbar is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dumbar surname appeared 148 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 Dumbar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dumbar 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 Dumbar

The surname DUMBAR is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic word "dun," meaning a fortified hill or fort, and "barr," referring to a summit or top. This suggests that the name may have initially denoted someone who lived near or oversaw a fortified hilltop settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the name DUMBAR can be found in various Scottish historical records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable example is the Charter of Melrose Abbey, dated 1166, which mentions a witness named Richard de Dunbar. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by the mid-12th century.

In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document recording the submission of Scottish nobility to Edward I of England, several individuals bearing the name DUMBAR are listed, including Patrick de Dumbar and Walter de Dumbar. These records provide evidence of the name's widespread use among the Scottish aristocracy during this period.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the DUMBAR family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding prominent positions and titles. One of the most notable figures was George Dumbar, Earl of March (c. 1339-1420), who served as a powerful nobleman and military leader during the reigns of Robert II and Robert III.

Another influential figure was Gavin Dumbar (c. 1455-1522), a Scottish churchman and scholar who served as Bishop of Aberdeen and was renowned for his poetic works and contributions to the Scottish Renaissance. His contemporary, William Dumbar (c. 1465-1530), was a celebrated Scottish poet often referred to as the "Chaucer of Scotland."

In the 16th century, the DUMBAR surname can be found in various records related to the Scottish Reformation, with individuals like Patrick Dumbar (c. 1520-1594), who served as a Protestant minister and was involved in the establishment of the reformed Kirk.

Other notable historical figures bearing the DUMBAR name include Sir James Dumbar (c. 1555-1625), a Scottish soldier and courtier who served under James VI of Scotland and I of England, and Sir William Dumbar (c. 1590-1660), a Scottish landowner and soldier who fought in the English Civil War.

While the DUMBAR surname has maintained its Scottish roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dumbar

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

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

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

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