The Dudley surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 35,781 people carried this name — #972 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,240 people counted. That is up 3% from 34,770 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dudley surname

A habitational surname from Old English, notably of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester at the time of Elizabeth I.

From Old English, literally "wood or clearing of Dudda (a personal name of unknown meaning)".

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dudley» (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 local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Dudley’.

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

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 255 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 6 births for the Dudley name in 1890.

Most were registered in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. One of them was indexed under another spelling of the name.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 5
Leinster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

227 families named Dudley, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,156 people lived in those households, 5.1 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

Connecticut 47
Virginia 36
Massachusetts 33
New Hampshire 31
North Carolina 29
Maine 20
Maryland 10
New York 8
Vermont 7
South Carolina 6

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

In print

Dudley in American newspapers,
1895–1909.

Newspaper page from Fort Worth Gazette carrying the name Dudley
Fort Worth Gazette 1896-03-15
Newspaper page from Fort Worth Gazette carrying the name Dudley
Fort Worth Gazette 1895-10-08
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Dudley
The Montgomery Advertiser 1909-01-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 12,836 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dudley in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

90,862 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dudley. The most, 19,177, 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 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 28,553
Victoria 20,887
South Australia 14,931
Queensland 13,505
Western Australia 8,953
Tasmania 2,969
ACT (Canberra) 740
Northern Territory 84

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

Who carried it

People named Dudley,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Dudley
    John Dudley d. 1580 · politician
  • George J. Dudley d. 1921 · writer
  • Thomas Dudley d. 1593 · politician
  • Florence Louisa Dudley d. 1950
  • Clare Mary Elizabeth Dudley d. 1998
  • Emma Dudley d. 1911

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dudley,
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 States3,064 records

3,064 records of the Dudley name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,292
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 584
  • Other U.S. records 1,188
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Jack E. Dudley

    Born 1923 in Missouri. Enlisted 1943 at Jefferson Barracks; route man from St Louis County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1988, buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Gallia from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 50; matron. From Birmingham, England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Bruce Wesley Dudley

    Born 1947; from Cayce, South Carolina. U.S. Army, heavy anti-armor weapons infantryman; died of wounds 1968 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 3,064 records for Dudley in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · 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) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia852 records

852 records of the Dudley name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 387
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 173
  • Other Australian records 292
  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 Joseph Dudley

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Lady Feversham, arriving 1830; ticket of leave 1837. Native of London.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ruth Dudley

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Beejapore, as an infant; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frederick William Dudley

    Paper worker of St Kilda, Victoria; died 1963.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 852 records for Dudley 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) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada56 records

56 records of the Dudley name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 16
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 16
  • Other Canadian records 24
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Dudley

    Came to Ontario in 1869 aboard the Crocodile, landing at Quebec, bound for Guelph, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Francis Steven Dudley

    Died 1925; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record George Alfred Dudley

    Died 1934 in Bridgewater, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

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

Showing 3 of 56 records for Dudley 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 Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom43 records

43 records of the Dudley name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 34
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 5
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elijah Dudley

    Died 1925, aged 47; buried at Bannockburn 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 Edward Dudley

    Will proved in 1933; of Barmouth, Merioneth.

    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 W. Dudley

    Corporal, Royal Garrison Artillery. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 43 records for Dudley 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. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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).

New Zealand17 records

17 records of the Dudley name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charlotte Jane Dudley

    Died 1930, aged 75; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, 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 Jane Dudley

    Buried in 1902 at Tararu Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 82.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alfred Adamson Dudley

    Died 1991, aged 82; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Dudley in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel 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).

France4 records

4 records of the Dudley 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 Annie Dudley

    Born 1953 in Paris; died 1993 in Le Plessis-Robinson (Hauts-de-Seine).

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

    Born 1972 in Great Britain; died 1999 in the United Kingdom.

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

    Born 1917 in the United Kingdom; died 1993 in Porto-Vecchio (Corse).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Dudley 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).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Dudley name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Robert Harold Dudley

    Died 1945 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 24; typesetter.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Harold Suteliffe Dudley

    Married in 1921 in 's-Gravenhage; office clerk.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Robert Dudley

    Died 1969 in Overleden op Zee, aged 59.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Dudley in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dudley.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dudley 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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