History of your Surname
Get access to Dobson family records.Start a free trial

Dobson Family History

Dobson Name Meaning

English: patronymic from the Middle English personal name Dob(b) a rhyming pet form of Robert (see Dobbe ) + -son.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Dopson, Robson, Dotson, Hobson, Dowson, Dolson, Dodson, Donlon

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Dobson family from?

You can see how Dobson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dobson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dobson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,914 Dobson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Dobson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Dobson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dobson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Dobson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dobson. 9% of Dobson men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Dobson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dobson were Retired and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Dobson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Farmer
    3%
  • Retired
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dobson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 326,000 census records available for the last name Dobson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dobson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Dobson

Passenger Lists

There are 82,000 immigration records available for the last name Dobson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dobson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30,000 military records available for the last name Dobson. For the veterans among your Dobson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dobson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dobson family history

Discover More

What is the average Dobson lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Dobson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Dobson in 1942 was 51, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dobson

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dobson family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Dobson last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial