Contents [hide]

Dobson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Dobson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Dobson 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 Dobson family

The surname Dobson 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 Dobson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dobson 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 Dobson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dobson 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 Dobson include Dobson, Dobsons, Dobsin, Dobsan, Dobsaun, Dobsone and many more.

Early Notables of the Dobson 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 abou...
William Dobson (1610-1646), was a portrait-painter, born in London, in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn. "His father, who was master of the Alienation Office, had been a gentleman of good position in...

Dobson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dobson is the 1,305^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Dobson is ranked the 992^nd most popular surname with an estimated 5,459 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Dobson is the 599^th popular surname with an estimated 6,512 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Dobson as 370^th with 1,726 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Dobson as 356^th with 17,595 people. 7

Migration of the Dobson family to Ireland

Some of the Dobson 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.

Dobson migration to the United States +

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:

Dobson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Dobson, who settled in Virginia in the year 1638
Edward Dobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 8
Richard Dobson, who settled in Virginia in the year 1643
Richard Dobson, who landed in Virginia in 1643 8
Elizab Dobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Dobson, who landed in Virginia in 1700 8
Andrew Dobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 8
Joan Dobson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 8
Robert Dobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
Deborah Dobson, aged 2, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Dobson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 8
Peter Dobson, aged 27, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 8
I Dobson, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1813 8
George Dobson, aged 29, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 8
James Dobson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dobson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Hannah Dobson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Dobson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Richard Dobson, aged 72, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
Thomas Dobson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
Ann Dobson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Samuel Dobson, who settled in Harbour Grace Parish in Newfoundland in 1823 9
Samuel Dobson was recorded in Hants Harbour in 1828
Thomas Dobson, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eweretta" in 1833
Miss. Jane Dobson, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 10
Mr. William Dobson, aged 19 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec but died on Grosse Isle in 5th July 1847 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dobson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Dobson, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Joseph Dobson, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. John Dobson, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Dobson, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. John Dobson, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dobson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dobson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Dobson, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Will O the Wisp" arriving in New Zealand in 1852 16
Mr. William Dobson, (b. 1836), aged 22, Irish agriculturalist from Wicklow travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 16
Mrs. Kate Dobson, (b. 1838), aged 20, Irish settler from Wicklow travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 16
William Dobson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1860 17
Benjamin Dobson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dobson (post 1700) +

Sir Christopher Martin Dobson FRS, FMEDSci (1949-2019), British Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology, Master of St. John's College in Cambridge, appointed Knight Bachelor on 8th June 2018, for services to Science and Higher Education 18
Kevin Patrick Dobson (1943-2020), American film and television actor, best known for his role as Detective Bobby Crocker, in Kojak (1973–1978)
Richard Dobson (1942-2017), American singer-songwriter
Edward G. Dobson (1949-2015), Northern Irish-born, American pastor and executive for the Moral Majority
Dominic Dobson (b. 1957), German-born, American former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver
Bridget and Jerome Dobson, American co-writers of American soap operas, best known as creators of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara
Aaron Jared Dobson (b. 1991), American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots
John Lowry Dobson (1915-2014), American amateur astronomer, best known for the developing the eponymous Dobsonian telescope
Pat Dobson (1942-2006), American baseball player
James Dobson, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1920 19
... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dobson family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Herbert Hartfield Dobson (1918-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

HMS Hood

Mr. Charles W Dobson (b. 1919), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Poole, Dorsetshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. Reginald Dobson, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 22

USS Arizona

Mr. Clarence J. Dobson, American Gunner's Mate Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 23

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 24)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html