Doodson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Doodson came from Dodd or Dodda. They were Old English personal names common in England from Lincolnshire on south. The name Doodson denotes "son of Dodd or Dodda." ^[1]

"Alwinus Dodesone occurs in Domesday as a tenant in chief, Hertfordshire, 142. He was doubtless of Saxon blood." ^[2]

Early Origins of the Doodson family

The surname Doodson was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Alternatively, the family could have originated in Dutson, a hamlet northeast of Launceston in Cornwall.

Early rolls include the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which listed: Benedict Dod, Northamptonshire; Peter Dod, Oxfordshire; Richard Dod, Cambridgeshire; and William Dod, Salop (Shropshire.) ^[3]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 were the first to list the "Dodson" variant: Magota Dodson; Johannes Dod; William Daudson; Willelmus Daud; and Johannes Daudson. ^[3]

Charles Dodgson (1832-1898), the famed English writer of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and many more, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll was born in Daresbury, Cheshire. His father, also named Charles Dodgson (c. 1722-1795) was born in Howden, Yorkshire. And his father, Christopher Dodgson (1696-1750) was born there too.

Early History of the Doodson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doodson research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1066 and 1379 are included under the topic Early Doodson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doodson Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Doodson family name include Dodson, Dodshon, Doddson, Doddshon, Doddsaun, Dodsaun, Dodsen, Dodsin, Doddsen, Doddsin, Dodsine, Doddsan and many more.

Early Notables of the Doodson family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Doodson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doodson migration to Australia +

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

Doodson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Peter Doodson, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Blundell" on 13th March 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) ^[4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Doodson (post 1700) +

Dr. Arthur Thomas Doodson (1890-1968), British oceanographer, Fellow of the Royal Society (1933)
Peta Doodson (b. 1955), Australian television actress

The Doodson 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: Virtus semper eadam
Motto Translation: Virtue is always the same.

Citations +

^ Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
^ Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
^ Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
^ Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blundell