| ![Show Contents]() Doss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The name Doss, which is a local surname, reveals that the original bearer of the name once lived, held land, or was born in Schleswig-Holstein, which is the northernmost state in western Germany. This is the homeland of the proud surname Doss. By and large, hereditary surname were formed in Germany when areas of Schleswig, and most of the German states, were a part of the Holy Roman Empire. At this time, as the population of Europe swelled and travel became easier, people began to encounter others sharing their own name and they avoided confusion by adopting a second name. A common form of surname found in Schleswig are those that are derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Doss was a name for a loud or boisterous person. The distinguished name Doss is derived from the Old Germanic word dossen, which means to speak loudly or to make noise. Early Origins of the Doss familyThe surname Doss was first found in East Friesland, out of which the name quickly spread across the northern coastlands of Germany, in particular to Holstein and Mecklenburg. The name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. The variations Dose and Dohse were found particularly frequently in Nordelbingen, as well as throughout Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. In the Middle Ages, Dose became quite popular as a first name among knights. Chronicles mention, for instance, the knight Dose Block of Holstein in 1371. Chronicles also mention the figure Doso von Helle, who owned the village Dosenbeck near Preetz in Holstein. Its use as a last name may have stemmed from the area in East Friesland where the Dose river flows into the Ems. Early History of the Doss familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doss research. Another 186 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1291, 1337, 1476, 1740, 1762 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Doss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Doss Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Dose (Hamburg), Dohse, Doose, Dase, Doss, Dosse, Dos, Doz, Dozze and many more. Early Notables of the Doss familyNotables of the time included - Damian Dossen, a major of the Licaner infantry regiment in the Austrian army, who was ennobled in 1762 in reward for his outstanding bravery and loyalty and given the predicate: von Sternfeld
Doss RankingIn the United States, the name Doss is the 1,411st most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 1
 Doss migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Doss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Daniel Doss, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754
- Bernhart Doss, who settled in Philadelphia in 1764
Doss Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Emma Doss, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1892
Doss Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Heinrich Doss, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Freiling, in 1904
- Friedrich Doss, aged 18, who landed in America from Hamburg, in 1905
- Franz Doss, aged 38, who immigrated to America from Hungary, in 1907
- Richard Doss, aged 32, who landed in America from Passaic, Germany, in 1909
- Adelherd Doss, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Nainbs, Germany, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Doss (post 1700) | + |
- Mark Steven Doss (b. 1957), Grammy Award-winning American bass-baritone
- Lawrence P. Doss (1927-2001), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State University board of trustees, 1990
- Eugene Doss, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 15th District; Elected 1975 2
- E. W. Doss, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 4th District, 1869-71
- Mrs. A. K. Doss Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1960 2
- Bill Doss (1968-2012), American co-founder of The Elephant 6 Recording Company in Athens, Georgia
- Colonel Edwin A. Doss (1914-1996), American fighter pilot, commander in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and Korean War, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and the Air Medal
- Private First Class Desmond T Doss (1919-2006), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
- Noble Doss (1921-2009), American football player
- Shannon Lowell Doss, American director of the Dallas Federal Business Association and President of the Texas State Teachers Association, decorated with an Air Medal
- ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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Doss migration to the United States 
