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Dobbs Family History

Dobbs Surname Meaning

English: variant of Dobb with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s from the medieval personal name Dobb(e).

It is a rhyming pet form of Robert.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Dobbs family from?

You can see how Dobbs families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dobbs family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dobbs families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 336 Dobbs families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 16% of all the recorded Dobbs's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Dobbs families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dobbs surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Dobbs ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Dobbs. 10% of Dobbs men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Dobbs women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dobbs were Retired and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Dobbs | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Dobbs family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 94,000 census records available for the last name Dobbs. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dobbs census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dobbs

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Dobbs. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dobbs immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Dobbs. For the veterans among your Dobbs ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dobbs military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dobbs family history

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What is the average Dobbs lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Dobbs life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Dobbs in 1940 was 29, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dobbs

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dobbs ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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