The Dunbar surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 26,405 people carried this name — #1,335 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 11,200 people counted. That is up 6% from 24,871 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dunbar surname

A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dunbar» (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 Dunbar’.

An early record he cites: Philippus Donbar, 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. 257 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 26 births for the Dunbar name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,200 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 9 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Wexford, Antrim, Down, and Tyrone.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 13
Leinster 11
Connacht 2

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

In Scotland’s registers today

Dunbar was recorded 70 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 380th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 88. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

121 families named Dunbar, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 630 people lived in those households, 5.2 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

Massachusetts 47
Pennsylvania 14
New York 12
Connecticut 10
Virginia 8
Maine 7
Maryland 6
Vermont 4
North Carolina 4
South Carolina 4
Rhode Island 3
New Hampshire 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. 238 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Dunbar in American newspapers,
1901–1903.

Newspaper page from Iron County Register carrying the name Dunbar
Iron County Register 1901-01-31
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Dunbar
The Montgomery Advertiser 1903-07-10
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Dunbar
The Montgomery Advertiser 1903-07-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 254,429 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dunbar in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

46,924 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dunbar. The most, 9,328, date from the 1900s. Victoria 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 the Australian Capital Territory, at 2.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 16,456
New South Wales 12,896
Queensland 9,241
South Australia 4,672
Tasmania 1,358
Western Australia 1,354
ACT (Canberra) 805
Northern Territory 19

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

Who carried it

People named Dunbar,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Columba de Dunbar
    Columba de Dunbar 1386–1435 · Catholic priest
  • William Dunbar
    William Dunbar 1460–1520 · writer
  • William Dunbar
    William Dunbar 1749–1810 · surveyor
  • Duncan Dunbar
    Duncan Dunbar 1803–1862 · businessperson
  • Charles Franklin Dunbar
    Charles Franklin Dunbar 1830–1900 · economist

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — William Dunbar: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 307 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dunbar,
in the records of 8 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 States2,595 records

2,595 records of the Dunbar name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 847
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 539
  • Other U.S. records 1,209
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ralph W. Dunbar

    Born 1931; from Bradford County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Army, light weapons infantry leader; died of wounds 1953 in North Korea. Buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, New York.

    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 John D. Dunbar

    Born 1916 in Indiana. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Rosecrans, California; farm hand. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina, California.

    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 Ann Dunbar

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Rome from Liverpool, aged 70; servant. From Queenstown, Ireland.

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

Showing 3 of 2,595 records for Dunbar 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) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · 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) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). 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).

Australia923 records

923 records of the Dunbar name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 438
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 192
  • Other Australian records 293
  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 Julia Dunbar

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Gilbert Henderson, sailing from London in 1839. Native of Birmingham, Warwickshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1843. Married 1843 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 25.

    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 James Dunbar

    Died 1910 in East¿devonport, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1910.

    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 Wm Dunbar

    Arrived in Queensland in 1883 aboard the Nebo, aged 11.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 923 records for Dunbar 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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). 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).

Canada762 records

762 records of the Dunbar name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 651
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 30
  • Other Canadian records 81
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alexander Dunbar

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 43; buried at St Croix.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alex Dunbar

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Manitoban, landing at Quebec, bound for Arthur, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Renard Dunbar

    Buried in 1970 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 70.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 762 records for Dunbar 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. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom84 records

84 records of the Dunbar name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 45
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 21
  • Other British records 18
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Dunbar

    Born 1895 at Kilbuiack; ploughman. Died 1918. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen J. Dunbar

    Died 1944, aged 80; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Sarah Dunbar

    Buried in 1829 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 70.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 84 records for Dunbar in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · 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: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand18 records

18 records of the Dunbar name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emma Louisa Dunbar

    Died 1945, aged 69; 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 Thomas Dunbar

    Buried in 1931 at Tararu Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 72.

    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 Margaret Dunbar

    Died 1927, aged 91; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Dunbar 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).

Netherlands10 records

10 records of the Dunbar name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Fraser MacLean Dunbar

    Married in 1946 in Nijmegen; farmer.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Dunbar

    Married in 1628 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Antonia Elisabeth Dunbar

    In the population register of Zutphen; born 1774.

    Open Archives, Regionaal archief Zutphen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Dunbar 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); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Dunbar 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 Mirko Marius Dunbar

    Born 1935 in Lyon (Rhône); died 1999 in Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire).

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

    Born 1903 in Great Britain; died 2001 in La Châtaigneraie (Vendée).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Dunbar 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).

Germany2 records

2 records of the Dunbar name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Walter Dunbar

    From Braunschweig. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 8 May 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 32).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Dunbar in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dunbar.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dunbar 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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