Show ContentsDobbsent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Dobbsent

What does the name Dobbsent mean?

The Dobbsent surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from Dob, the baptismal name meaning the son of Robert. 1

Early Origins of the Dobbsent family

The surname Dobbsent 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 Dobbsent family

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

Dobbsent Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Dobbsent are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Dobbsent include: Dobson, Dobsons, Dobsin, Dobsan, Dobsaun, Dobsone and many more.

Early Notables of the Dobbsent 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 Dobbsent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dobbsent family to Ireland

Some of the Dobbsent 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 Dobbsent family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Dobbsent or a variant listed above: 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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