Origins of the Dawson surname
What does the name Dawson mean?
Dawson is an English surname that has been discovered in records as early as the 1300s. It is believed to be a patronymic name given to those who are the son or descendant of 'Dawe', 'Daud' or 'Dow', these three names being diminutive or pet names of the forename 'David'. Some proponents believe that the surname also arose from the Norman name 'D'Ossone', reffering to somebody from an area of the same name (and a knight by that name is reupted to have accompanied William the Conquerer in 1066), but this is considered to be rarer.
Alternative variations of the name Dawson
Dawson, Dawsons, Dowson, Dawsone, Dauson
Start your family history journey
Start free trial
Start your family tree
Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Dawsons.
Sign up to get startedDelve deeper into the Dawson family's history
Common jobs for Dawsons
Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.
Commmon female occupations for Dawsons in 1921
Dressmaker
1,381
Cotton Weaver
1,223
Domestic Servant
773
Housekeeper
645
General Servant Domestic
593
Commmon male occupations for Dawsons in 1921
Coal Miner
1,814
Agricultural Labourer
1,078
Farmer
1,005
General Labourer
998
Joiner
753
Learn more about the lives of Dawson family members
Share your discoveries
Look for a different surname
Find out more about your family in our records