Dotson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Early Origins of the Dotson family

The surname Dotson was first found in Cheshire, but "there appears to be no post-Conquest traces of the [Domesday Book reference of] Dodeson; the modern Dodson is due to a simplification of the medial 'dgs' or Dodgson." 1

There is no doubt that the "son" suffix denoted a patronymic extension of the root name "Dodd" or "Dodge." In the case of the former, Dodd is derived from the "Middle English personal name Dode, Dudde, Old English Dodda, Dudda, which remained in fairly widespread and frequent use in England until the 14th century." 2

In the case of the latter, Dodge is derived "from the Middle English given name Dogge, a pet for of Roger; [and] possibly a nickname from the Middle English dogge (dog.)" (Oxf)

As far as records of the surname and its early spellings, we found: Brictricus filius Doddi listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Worcestershire 4 and Balterus filius Dude, Walterus Dudde in the 11 century. Aluinus Dode, Dodeson was also listed in the Domesday Book in Hertfordshire. 1

Early History of the Dotson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dotson research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1732, 1740, 1754, 1757, 1770, 1778, 1780, 1783, 1790, 1793, 1799, 1801, 1804, 1807, 1808 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Dotson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dotson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Doddson, Dodson, Dotson, Doddson, Dodson and others.

Early Notables of the Dotson family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir Anthony Dod; and Thaddeus Dod (1740-1793), a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College.James Dodson (d. 1757), teacher of the mathematics and master of the Royal Mathematical School, Christ's Hospital, is known chiefly by his work on 'The Anti-Logarithmic Canon' and 'The Mathematical Miscellany.' Of his early life nothing is known, except that his contemporary, Dr. Matthew Maty, in his 'Mémoire sur la vie et sur les écrits de M. A. de Moivre,' enumerated Dodson among 'les disciples qu'il a...
Another 220 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dotson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dotson Ranking

In the United States, the name Dotson is the 760^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Dotson family to Ireland

Some of the Dotson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dotson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dotson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Abra Dotson, who landed in Virginia in 1663 6

Dotson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Janet Dotson, aged 30, who immigrated to America, in 1905
Mrs. W.C. Dotson, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1908
Pauline Dotson, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
Florence Dotson, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
Annie Dotson, aged 21, who settled in America from Tonypandy, Wales, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dotson (post 1700) +

Patrice Dotson (b. 1950), American actress, known as Patrice Chanel
Jahan Waltè Dotson (b. 2000), American football wide receiver
Gary E. Dotson (b. 1957), American man who was the first person to be exonerated of a criminal conviction by DNA evidence
James Dent Dotson (1933-2017), known as Jimmy "Louisiana" Dotson, was an American blues singer, guitarist and drummer
Lionel Eugene Dotson Jr. (b. 1985), former American football defensive tackle
Mentor Dotson (b. 1837), American politician, teacher, minister, and storekeeper
Santana N. Dotson (b. 1969), American former professional football player
Damyean Da'Kethe Dotson (b. 1994), American professional basketball player
Demar Dotson (b. 1985), former American football offensive tackle
Devon Durrell Dotson (b. 1999), American professional basketball player
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Dotson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In Copia Cautus
Motto Translation: Careful amid plenty.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Hanks Patricia, Flavia Hodges, Mills A.D., Room Adrian, The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-19-860561-7)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)