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

Dundas, 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 Dundas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dundas in America

Dundas is the 18272nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dundas surname appeared 1,520 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dundas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dundas 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 Dundas

The surname Dundas originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the lands of Dundas in West Lothian, Scotland. The name is thought to be a territorial designation from the Gaelic word "dun" meaning a hill or fort, and "deas" meaning south, referring to the southern location of the lands.

The earliest recorded instance of the Dundas name can be traced back to the 12th century. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, the name Dundas appears as "Dondasse". This indicates the name's Scottish origins and its use as a territorial designation.

The Dundas family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding prominent positions and titles. One notable figure was Sir Archibald Dundas (1564-1640), who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James VI of Scotland.

Another historic individual was Sir Walter Dundas (c.1620-1675), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate and Lord President of the Court of Session. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Scottish legal system and was known for his impartiality and fairness.

In the 18th century, Sir Lawrence Dundas (1710-1781) was a influential Scottish merchant and politician. He amassed a considerable fortune through trade and investments, and was elected as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies. His wealth and influence helped establish the Dundas family as one of the most prominent in Scotland.

The Dundas name also has connections to the British Empire. Thomas Dundas (1750-1832) was a Scottish politician and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Prince Edward Island from 1794 to 1805. His role in the development of the island's infrastructure and governance left a lasting impact.

Another notable figure was Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas (1785-1862), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth, which trained officers for the Royal Navy.

Throughout history, the Dundas surname has been associated with landed gentry, politicians, lawyers, and military figures, reflecting its Scottish origins and the prominent role the family played in Scotland and the wider British Empire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dundas

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

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

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

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