The Dodson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 37,566 people carried this name — #927 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,850 people counted. That is up 1% from 37,298 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dodson surname

A surname transferred from the given name.

From Dodge + -son and from Dodd + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dodson» (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 explains it as ‘the son of Dod’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Benedict Dod, Northamptonshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Dod, Dodd, Dodds, Dods, Dodson, Dodshon and Dodshun.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 245 · public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

83 families named Dodson, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 504 people lived in those households, 6.1 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. 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

Virginia 44
Maryland 14
North Carolina 12
Pennsylvania 6
South Carolina 4
Massachusetts 2
New York 1

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. 237 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Dodson in American newspapers,
1885–1918.

Newspaper page from Ladysmith News-budget carrying the name Dodson
Ladysmith News-budget 1918-01-18
Newspaper page from The Burrillville Gazette carrying the name Dodson
The Burrillville Gazette 1886-08-06
Newspaper page from The Bolivar Bulletin carrying the name Dodson
The Bolivar Bulletin 1885-07-31

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 165,811 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dodson in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

8,235 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dodson. The most, 1,684, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 2,053
South Australia 1,816
Victoria 1,351
Queensland 1,282
Western Australia 853
Tasmania 663
ACT (Canberra) 189
Northern Territory 7

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

Who carried it

People named Dodson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Dodson d. 1671 · architect
  • Earl Dodson d. 2009 · geologist
  • Jeremiah Dodson d. 1744
  • John Dodson 1580–1652 · immigrant
  • Jesse Dodson 1623–1716
  • Charles Joseph Dodson 1649–1705

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

In the public record

People named Dodson,
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 States2,313 records

2,313 records of the Dodson name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,332
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 579
  • Other U.S. records 402
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Leonard Dodson

    Born 1948; from New York, New York. U.S. Army, medical specialist; killed in action 1969 in Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. Buried at Hampton National Cemetery, Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James R. Dodson

    Born 1916 in Tennessee. Enlisted 1941 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; machine shop worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1982, buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Dodson

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chicago from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 31; trader. From Huddersford, England; bound for New York.

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

Showing 3 of 2,313 records for Dodson 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, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia360 records

360 records of the Dodson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 175
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 83
  • Other Australian records 102
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Emily Beatrice Dodson

    Died 1895 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 27. Will registered in Tasmania in 1895.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Albinus, aged 29; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 William Dodson

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Hindostan, arriving 1821; ticket of leave 1836.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 360 records for Dodson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: 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); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada48 records

48 records of the Dodson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 24
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 10
  • Other Canadian records 14
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Caroline Delores Dodson

    Buried in 1998 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 81.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Hilda Mary Dodson

    Died 1970 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 69.

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

    Died in service in 1944.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 48 records for Dodson in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · 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); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

New Zealand32 records

32 records of the Dodson name in New Zealand
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 28
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 3
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Vincent Henry Dodson

    Died 1958, aged 78; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ann Dodson

    Died 1909, aged 95; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Leurua Mary Dodson

    Died 1908; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 32 records for Dodson in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri 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).

United Kingdom21 records

21 records of the Dodson name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 14
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • Other British records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Nancy Flora Baden Dodson

    Died 1996, aged 96; buried at Trossachs Churchyard Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles Edward Dodson

    Will proved in 1932; of Tottenham, Middlesex.

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

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 21 records for Dodson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); 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).

France3 records

3 records of the Dodson 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 Fernande Daisy Dodson

    Born 1918 in Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine); died 1993 in Orléans (Loiret).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Daniel Dodson

    Born 1918 in the United States; died 1991 in Solliès-Ville (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marjorie Inez Dodson

    Born 1913 in the United States; died 1993 in Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Dodson name in the Netherlands Dutch church registers before 1811
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Susanna Dodson

    Married in 1695 in Rotterdam; born in Westhester.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Francis Dodson

    Married in 1643 in Zaltbommel.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Rivierenland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Dodson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dodson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dodson 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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