Show ContentsDobbsend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Dobbsend has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from Dob, the baptismal name meaning the son of Robert. 1

Early Origins of the Dobbsend family

The surname Dobbsend was first found in Lancashire. The name was first found in the northern counties of England, firstly in Lancashire where they held Whitestock Hall, and by the 13th century had branched to Durham, Yorkshire, (where they held the Vicarage, near Bingley and Miss Ann Dobson was the heiress of Christopher Tancred of Wixley) and Cheshire. In 1396, Robert Johanson Dobson won a pardon in Lancashire. 2

Early History of the Dobbsend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dobbsend research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1567, 1610, 1633, 1646, 1670, 1675, 1681, 1695 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dobbsend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dobbsend Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dobbsend include Dobson, Dobsons, Dobsin, Dobsan, Dobsaun, Dobsone and many more.

Early Notables of the Dobbsend family

Notables of the family at this time include John Dobson (1633-1681), English Puritan divine, born in 1633 in Warwickshire, in which county his father was a minister. "In 1670 he was presented to the rectory of Corscombe in Dorsetshire, and about four years later to that of Cold Higham in Northamptonshire, by Sir William Farmor of Easton Neston, who had been his pupil at Magdalen College. He died in 1681 at Corscombe, where...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dobbsend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Dobbsend family to Ireland

Some of the Dobbsend family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dobbsend family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Edward Dobson settled in Virginia in the year 1638; and Richard also settled in that colony in the year 1643. Later, Samuel Dobson settled in Harbour Grace Parish in Newfoundland in 1823.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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