Show ContentsDote History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Dote is a nickname for a person known for great strength. The surname Dote originally derived from the Old English word "Doegheard." Another source claims the name to be from 'the son of Dionisia," typically found in Yorkshire, England. 1

Early Origins of the Dote family

The surname Dote was first found in Staffordshire at Freeford, a hamlet, in the parish of St. Michael, Lichfield, union of Lichfield, N. division of the hundred of Offlow. " The manor [of Freeford] was held by a family of its own name, in the reign of James I., and afterwards passed to the family of Dyott, who suffered much in the parliamentary war for their attachment to Charles I." 2

In Yorkshire, early records there show Dyett, Dyott (with no forename) recorded at Wakefield in 1296 and later Dyott was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. William Dyot was registered in 1348 as was Robert Diotte in Yorkshire in 1396. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Diot Mason; Diot de Wodehous; Willelmus Wege, et Diot uxor ejus; Johannes Chetel, et Diot uxor ejus; and Robertus Diot, et MarIona uxor ejus. 1

A scan through records in Scotland revealed "Hew Dvat, smith in Balgray Mill, Ayrshire, 1669; Alexander Dyett or Dyet, councillor in Irvine, 1665 (may be Alexander Dyet, merchant burgess of Irvine, 1680); and Robert Dyett, portioner in Meikle Govan, 1772." 4

Early History of the Dote family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dote research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1562, 1591, 1601, 1614, 1619, 1622, 1623, 1640, 1660, 1667, 1677, 1690, 1695 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Dote History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dote Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dyott, Dyot, Diot and others.

Early Notables of the Dote family

Notables of this surname at this time include: General John Dyot, known as "Dumb éyort of Somerson"; Anthony Dyott (c. 1560-1622) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1601 and 1614; Sir Richard Dyott (c. 1591-1660) was an English lawyer...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dote Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dote family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Dyett, who came to Maryland in 1661; Henry Dyet, who came to Virginia in 1741; Maxwell Dyett, who came to New York, NY in 1822; Thomas Dyott who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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