Surname Dod - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Dod: What does the surname Dod mean?
The surname Dod primarily originates from northern England, Scotland and Wales. It is derived from the Middle English term "dodde" or "dod", which originally meant a lump or clot, particularly in reference to a person's head. Hence, it was often used as a nickname for a person who was considered bald or had a round, chubby face. Another theory suggests that it is related to the Old English word "dodd" implying someone who was notable or remarkable. Surnames originated as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and physical characteristics. So, the people initially named Dod could have had connections to any of these interpretations. It is primarily patronymic and belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. However, it's also important to note that the interpretation of surnames is often speculative and meanings can evolve over time.
Order DNA origin analysisDod: Where does the name Dod come from?
The surname Dod is of Anglo-Saxon origin, stemming from the personal name Dodda or Dudda, which were popular names in the Middle Ages in England. This shortened version became a surname and was sometimes added with suffixes to indicate 'son of' or 'little'. Records of this surname date back to the 13th century.
Some genealogists associate the Dod surname with areas in Northern England, particularly in and around Cheshire County. Reverend Francis Dod who lived in the 1600s, is a well-documented name-bearer from this region during the English civil war.
Today, Dod is not a very common surname. However, its highest frequency is reported in the United States, followed by England and Australia. Despite its origins in Northern England, Dod is now found throughout the UK. In the United States, it is most prevalent in New York and Ohio.
As for Australia, it appears most in the state of Victoria. However, it features relatively low in terms of its ranking in these areas compared to other surnames. There are also pockets of individuals with the Dod surname in other countries like New Zealand, Canada, and Scotland.
Variations of the surname Dod
The surname Dod has several variants, spellings and related surnames due to geographical, historical and cultural differences. Variations of Dod include Dodd, Dodds, Doed, Dods, Doid, Dot, Dode, Dodde, Dott, Dodson, Dodsonn and Dood.
The surname Dod has English and Scottish origins and was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very old times. Surnames of similar origin include Dodman, Doddsman, Dodsworth and Dodgson.
The variation Dodds is particularly common in Northern England and Scotland, while Dodd and Dodson are prevalent in the Midlands and the South of England. The spelling Dod is mostly found in North Western England. Dot is primarily a Scottish variant.
Also, several names might be derived from Dod, such as Dodkins, or doubled to form names like Dodo or Doddo. These variations can be attributed to stylistic choices or dialectical influences over time.
In some cases, occupational identifiers have been added to the core name to specify a family’s trade or profession, resulting in names like Doddsmith and Dodderidge. Bear in mind that spelling variations were common, especially before the introduction of standardized spelling in the 16th century.
Famous people with the name Dod
There seems to be very few widely recognized individuals with the surname Dod, possibly due to its rarity. One potential candidate is Neil Dod, a former professional football player who played for Blackpool FC in the early 1980s. Another person named Alex Dod was a former professional soccer player from New Zealand who played as a goalkeeper. On another note, Carl Spencer Dod is well-known in academic circles as an American professor of New Testament Studies and Greek at Covenant Theological Seminary. In the realm of Arts, Daniel Dod, is a popular director and producer of movies, most notable for his works "Baxter and Me" and "Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas". It's important to note, thus, that the rarity of this surname means that the level of fame of the individuals mentioned may not be at the "household name" level of other more common surnames.