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