Surname Dawes - Meaning and Origin

Dawes: What does the surname Dawes mean?

The surname Dawes is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the Hebrew personal name David, which means "beloved." In Middle English, this name was often shortened to Dawe, thus the surname could mean "son of Dawe" as it carries the patronymic suffix "-s". Over the years, it has seen various spellings including Dawes, Dawe, Daws, and Daw. The surname emerged during the era when establishing family names became necessary, typically influenced by a patriarch's personal name, occupation, or location. Some notable people with the last name Dawes include English scientist Henry Dawes, American banker and Vice President Charles Dawes, and American folk band Dawes.

Dawes: Where does the name Dawes come from?

The surname Dawes is of English origin, derived from the personal name Daw, which is a pet form of David. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is based on the name of a father or ancestor (i.e., Dawes essentially means "son of Daw").

The name was first found in Yorkshire, England during the Middle Ages. It was during the Norman conquest of England in 1066 that the use of surnames began to develop, and families who inhabited different areas or held different estates started adopting distinct surnames.

Today, Dawes is prevalent in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the United States. In the UK, there tends to be a heavy concentration of those bearing the Dawes surname in Berkshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Leicestershire counties. In the United States, it's most common in states like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and California. However, its spread is generally scattered, making data about its prominence in specific locations hard to pinpoint.

Variations of the surname Dawes

The surname Dawes is of English origin. It has several variants and spelling based on geographical location and language. Some of the different forms of the surname include Daw, Dawe, Daws, Dowse, Douse, Dohse, and Dohuse.

The surname Dawes is a pet form of the medieval given name Daw, a diminutive of David. In Wales, the equivalent would be Dafydd. The patronymic form, meaning ‘son of Daw’, is Daws. Dowse and Douse are phonetic variants of the name from the south of England. The similar sounding German surname Dohse or Dohuse could be of the same origin but could also be derived from a different root.

The Dawes surname is found in English families, particularly concentrated in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It spread to Ireland, Scotland, and then to North America and Australia with English immigrants.

Remember that the spelling of surnames was not standardized until recent times, so different spellings of the same original surname are usually due to phonetic variations. The meaning may also vary depending on cultural and regional differences.

Famous people with the name Dawes

• Charles Gates Dawes: The 30th Vice President of the United States and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• William Dawes: One of several men and a woman in April of 1775 who alerted colonial minutemen in Massachusetts of the approach of British army troops prior to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
• James William Dawes: A prominent Nebraska businessman and the fifth governor of Nebraska.
• Rufus Dawes: Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He was noted for his participation in the Battle of Gettysburg. Father of Charles Gates Dawes.
• Dominique Dawes: An American former artistic gymnast who was a 10-year member of the U.S. national gymnastics team, the 1994 U.S. all-around senior National Champion, a three-time Olympian and a member of the gold-winning "Magnificent Seven" team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Richard Dawes: A noted classical scholar in the mid-18th century, considered to be the founder of Greek textual criticism.
• Dominic Dawes: A retired ice hockey player from England.
• Rob Dawes: An English professional footballer.
• Pete Dawes: A retired English professional footballer.
• James Dawes: An American novelist and literary critic.
• Taylor Goldsmith: Lead singer and guitarist of American folk-rock band Dawes.

Other surnames

DaweDawer