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Dawling Family History

Dawling Surname Meaning

From an early Middle English personal name Dal(l)ing (Old English Dealing), the name has origins in the Middle English personal name Daulin, which is a rhyming pet form of Rawlin meaning ‘little Ralph’. This suggests a rich etymological history rooted in personal identification.

For example, the name appears in historical records such as Willelmus Dawlynsone in 1381, located in the Poll Tax of Weston under Lizard, Staffs. This evidence highlights the prevalence of the name in certain regions and its variation over time.

Comparative analysis with similar names can be seen when exploring Raw and Daw, which showcases the interconnectedness of names during this period. Additionally, the transition from -in to -ing represents a common linguistic development observed in post-medieval naming conventions.

In East Anglia and Lincolnshire, a variant of Dalling has been noted, emphasizing the regional adaptations and the evolution of the name. This underscores the dynamic nature of personal names and their local significance.

In Scotland, the name could potentially belong to either of the previously mentioned categories, reflecting the complexity of name origins and their geographical diffusion over time.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Dawling family from?

You can see how Dawling families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dawling family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dawling families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 7 Dawling families living in Surrey. This was about 33% of all the recorded Dawling's in United Kingdom. Surrey had the highest population of Dawling families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dawling 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 Dawling 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 Dawling. 50% of Dawling men worked as a General Labourer and 87% of Dawling women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dawling were Gas Fitter and Domestic Duties Unpaid.

View Census Data for Dawling | 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
    50%
  • Gas Fitter
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Waitress Seeking Work
    7%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    7%

What Dawling family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Dawling. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dawling census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dawling

Passenger Lists

There are 851 immigration records available for the last name Dawling. 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 Dawling immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 286 military records available for the last name Dawling. For the veterans among your Dawling ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dawling military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dawling family history

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What is the average Dawling lifespan?

Between 1975 and 1993, in the United States, Dawling life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Dawling in 1975 was 87, and 77 in 1993.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dawling

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dawling 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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