Explore the Family Name Dawn
The meaning of Dawn
1. English (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire): of Norman origin, probably a clipped form of Dawnay or Dawney (compare Dana), habitational names from one of the many places in northern France named for an alder grove (Old French aulnai, aulnoi, Latinized as alnetum). With fused preposition d(e), Anglo-Norman d’Aunai became Dawnay, Dawney and (with loss of the final syllable) Dawn. Laney is another form of this surname with fused definite article. See also Dando, from Anglo-Norman d’Aunou, with which d’Aunai may sometimes have been confused. 2. English: from Middle English Dawen, a variant of Dawes with the weak declension genitival suffix -(e)n (Old English -an) instead of the standard Middle English -es. The usage is mainly restricted to West Midlands dialects of Middle English. 3. Americanized form of German Daun.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dawn in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Dawn saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Dawn was ranked 19,079 in terms of popularity and had a count of 1,319. By 2010, the rank had slid to 20,309 with a count of 1,309. This equates to a change of -6.45 in rank and a -0.76 drop in count. The proportion of this surname per 100,000 people also decreased by 10.2 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,079 | #20,309 | -6.45% |
| Count | 1,319 | 1,309 | -0.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.44 | -10.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dawn
The Decennial U.S. Census also shows shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Dawn. While individuals of White ethnicity predominantly held the surname in both 2000 (67.4%) and 2010 (63.41%), there was a notable increase in its occurrence among other ethnic groups. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 18.58, from 2.96% in 2000 to 3.51% in 2010. Those identifying with two or more races saw a significant jump of 63.18%, from 2.20% to 3.59%. There was also an increase among Hispanic bearers, rising by 45.91% from 2.20% to 3.21%. Black holders of the surname rose slightly by 4.41% from 23.12% to 24.14%. Lastly, American Indian and Alaskan Native bearers experienced a modest increase of 0.94%, from 2.12% to 2.14%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 67.4% | 63.41% | -5.92% |
| Black | 23.12% | 24.14% | 4.41% |
| Two or More Races | 2.2% | 3.59% | 63.18% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.96% | 3.51% | 18.58% |
| Hispanic | 2.2% | 3.21% | 45.91% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.12% | 2.14% | 0.94% |