The Dawkins surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 15,431 people carried this name — #2,363 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 19,100 people counted. That is up 11% from 13,940 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dawkins surname

A surname transferred from the given name.

From Dawkin + -s (“patronymic suffix”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dawkins» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of David’.

An early record he cites: Johannes Dawkyn, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Dawkins and Dawks.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 233 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Dawkins was found among the farmers of Leicestershire and Rutland: 17 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Leicestershire and Rutland 17

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

18 families named Dawkins, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 97 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with one other spelling. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 5
South Carolina 5
Virginia 4
Pennsylvania 2
Maryland 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 236 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Dawkins in American newspapers,
1910–1911.

Newspaper page from The Tacoma Times carrying the name Dawkins
The Tacoma Times 1910-05-31
Newspaper page from The Spokane Press carrying the name Dawkins
The Spokane Press 1910-09-28
Newspaper page from The Farmer And Mechanic carrying the name Dawkins
The Farmer And Mechanic 1911-04-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 414 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dawkins in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

18,631 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dawkins. The most, 3,348, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 3.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 8,590
ACT (Canberra) 2,662
New South Wales 2,617
Victoria 2,087
Tasmania 1,303
Western Australia 853
Queensland 478
Northern Territory 8

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dawkins.

Who carried it

People named Dawkins,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Doris Primrose Watts d. 1986
  • Margaret Cecilia Dawkins d. 1950
  • Elizabeth Cooper d. 1863
  • Winifred Frances Alice Dawkins d. 1950
  • May Downes d. 1938
  • Mary Caroline Dawkins d. 1897

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dawkins,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States902 records

902 records of the Dawkins name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 418
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 179
  • Other U.S. records 305
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James Dawkins

    Born 1906 in Georgia. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; garage worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1969, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Clarence Dawkins

    Born 1947; from Columbia, South Carolina. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Dawkins

    Arrived at New York in 1835 aboard the Boston from London, aged 36; laborer. From Kent, England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 902 records for Dawkins in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia451 records

451 records of the Dawkins name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 176
  • Tasmanian Names Index 145
  • Other Australian records 130
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Richard Dawkins

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the David Malcolm, sailing from Downs in 1845. Native of Romsey, Hampshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852. Married 1852 in Brighton, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Dawkins

    Died 1928 in Mental Hospital, New¿norfolk, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1929.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Elizth Dawkins

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Calliope, as an infant.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 451 records for Dawkins in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom23 records

23 records of the Dawkins name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 18
  • Welsh wills index cards 3
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Florence Elizabeth Dawkins

    Will proved in 1940; of Pembroke.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Dawkins

    Driver, Army Service Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Morgan Gamage Dawkins

    Will proved in 1939; of Morriston, Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Dawkins in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada17 records

17 records of the Dawkins name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 5
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 4
  • Other Canadian records 8
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Sidney Herbert Dawkins

    Buried in 1968 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 69.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Guy Dawkins

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record George Dawkins

    Listed at Guysborough, Nova Scotia in the census and tax rolls of 1793.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 17 records for Dawkins in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand5 records

5 records of the Dawkins name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 4
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Paul Patrick Dawkins

    Died 1977, aged 61; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hugh Francis Dawkins

    Died 1971, aged 52; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Henry Dawkins

    Died 1917, aged 78; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Dawkins in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Dawkins name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Brian Jack Dawkins

    Born 1940 in the United Kingdom; died 1991 in Cherbourg (Manche).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Dawkins in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Dawkins name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register William Alfred Loftus Dawkins

    In a population register.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Oscar Newton Dawkins

    In a population register.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dawkins.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dawkins is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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