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Dodson Family History

Dodson Surname Meaning

English:: patronymic from Dodd; ‘son of Dod(d) or Dud(d)’ from Middle English Dodd(e) Dudd(e) Old English Dodd(a) Dudd(a) + -son.

Alternatively the name may arise from a Middle English form of Old English Dodesunu, a compound personal name formed from the same elements as above and impossible to tell apart from the Middle English patronymic.

Post-medieval variant of Dodgson with simplification of the medial dgs.

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


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Where is the Dodson family from?

You can see how Dodson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dodson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dodson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 642 Dodson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Dodson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Dodson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dodson 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 Dodson 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 Dodson. 13% of Dodson men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Dodson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dodson were Gardener and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Dodson | 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
    13%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Police Constable
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Dodson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 188,000 census records available for the last name Dodson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dodson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dodson

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Dodson. 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 Dodson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 34,000 military records available for the last name Dodson. For the veterans among your Dodson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dodson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dodson family history

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What is the average Dodson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Dodson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Dodson in 1941 was 32, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dodson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dodson 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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