Explore the Family Name Dawson
The meaning of Dawson
1. English: patronymic meaning ‘son of Dawe’, from the Middle English personal name Daw(e) (see Daw 1 and 2), which is sometimes a pet form of David (see 2 below) but more generally of Rauf or Raw (i.e. Ralph), of which Daw(e) is a rhyming form. Alternatively, the patronymic could mean ‘son of Daud(e)’, another Middle English pet form of Ralph evidently used interchangeably with Dawe. Dawson is one of the most numerous patronymics. 2. Scottish: patronymic, ‘son of Dawe’. In Scotland Dawe is a diminutive of David (compare 1 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dawson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Dawson experienced a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 355th most common surname, but by 2010, it had dropped to the 380th position, marking a change of -7.04 percent. Despite the decrease in rank, the actual count of individuals with the surname Dawson increased from 80,190 in 2000 to 83,182 in 2010, indicating a growth rate of 3.73 percent. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of this surname decreased by -5.15 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #355 | #380 | -7.04% |
| Count | 80,190 | 83,182 | 3.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 29.73 | 28.2 | -5.15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dawson
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows diversification among those bearing the Dawson surname between 2000 and 2010. The proportion of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native all saw increases. Significant growth could be seen in the Hispanic community with an increase of 46.54 percent and the Asian/Pacific Islander community with a rise of 33.33 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of people with the Dawson surname who identified as White saw a slight decline from 70.48 percent to 68.30 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 70.48% | 68.3% | -3.09% |
| Black | 25.22% | 25.88% | 2.62% |
| Hispanic | 1.59% | 2.33% | 46.54% |
| Two or More Races | 1.72% | 2.29% | 33.14% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.48% | 0.64% | 33.33% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.51% | 0.57% | 11.76% |
Dawson ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Dawson is British & Irish, which comprises 54.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.3%) and Eastern European (3.7%). Additional ancestries include Nigerian, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.7% |
| French & German | 21.3% |
| Eastern European | 3.7% |
| Other | 20.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Dawson
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Dawson have recent ancestry locations all within United Kingdom.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 84.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 84.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 84.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 83.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 83.80% |
What Dawson haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Dawson is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and I-P109, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Edwards, Thompson, Taylor, Woods, Evans, Lewis, Thomas, Wilson, Green, Price.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Dawson surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Dawson have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Dawson" Surname 43.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Dawson" Surname 26.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Dawson" Surname 23.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Dawson" Surname 17.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Dawson?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Dawson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition