Surname Dobell - Meaning and Origin

Dobell: What does the surname Dobell mean?

The surname Dobell is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the medieval personal name "Dobbe", along with the diminutive suffix '-el', meaning 'little Dobbe'. It could therefore be translated to mean 'son of Dobbe' or 'little Dobbe'. The name Dobbe, in turn, is thought to be a pet form of Robert, which is derived from the Germanic name Hrodebert meaning "bright fame". This surname trend of adding ‘el’ as a diminutive was particularly popular in Middle Anglo-Saxon England. Given the multiple translations and possible origins, it is likely that over time and generations, people with different origins might have started using Dobell as their surname. Hence, origins could vary for different people carrying this last name. With this surname, bearers have been noted for contributions in fields of arts, literature, politics, and law. It is fairly widespread in English-speaking countries, including England, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Dobell: Where does the name Dobell come from?

The surname Dobell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has a rich history in England. It is derived from the Old English given name "Dobel" or "Dobbe," combined with the suffix "-hill" indicating a person dwelling by or near a hill. The surname first emerged in Sussex, a county in southeast England, during the early Middle Ages.

Dobell reached Australia with the British convicts in the late 18th and 19th centuries and found a new home. Since then, Australia has had a significant number of people with the Dobell surname, including Sir William Dobell, an eminent Australian painter.

Today, the last name Dobell can still be found in England and Australia. The largest concentration of people with the Dobell surname is in Australia, followed by England. The surname is also comparatively prevalent in the United States, Canada, Scotland, and South Africa. Thus, although Dobell is not an exceedingly common surname, it has global recognition and usage.

Variations of the surname Dobell

The surname "Dobell" has numerous variations, alternative spellings, and related surnames due to its British origins and the evolution of language over time. Some of the variants include Dobell, Dobel, Dobelle, Doble, Dabel, Dabels, and Doblels. The 'Dob' part of the name might be changed to 'Dab' or 'Dob' while 'ell' could be altered to 'elle' or 'el'.

Related surnames include Dobson and Dobinson, both sharing the "Dob" root with Dobell. The common 'do' beginning in these surnames can often refer to descendent of Robert which was often shortened as Dob.

In some cases, depending on the regional dialect, the surname could have been recorded under completely different variations. These transformations occurred typically due to the medieval scribes and church officials' recording names as they sounded, resulting in a single person's name being inconsistively recorded over their lifetime.

Therefore, the surname Dobell and its various versions have likely developed over many centuries, and may originate from different parts of the UK, Scotland, or Ireland. Each version indicates different family lines, although they may ultimately share a common root name or ancestor.

Famous people with the name Dobell

• Sir William Dobell: An Australian painter, noted for his portraiture work. He won the Archibald Prize multiple times.
• Stuart Dobell: An Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
• Digby Dobell: A British actor known for his roles in television series like "Doctors" and "Family Affairs".
• Arthur Dobell: A British poet, author, and lawyer who was involved in war tribunals during World War II.
• Steven Dobell: A British historian, professor, and writer specializing in Russian history and culture.
• Sydney Dobell: An English poet and critic of the Victorian era, he was noted for his work in the 'Spasmodic' school of poetry.
• John Dobell: An Anglican priest and a hymn writer affiliated with the Church of England.
• Dame Sarah Dobell: A notable British humanitarian. She served as the president of Save the Children’s English Council from 1965 to 1970.
• Scott Dobell: A Canadian professional ice hockey player who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks.
• Andrew Dobell: A British photographer and digital artist known for his composite image work.

Other surnames

DobelDobelstein