Surname Dosdall - Meaning and Origin

Dosdall: What does the surname Dosdall mean?

The last name Dosdall has two distinct origins in both Germany and England. In Germany, Dosdall is derived from the Middle High German personal name Doswald, which was derived from dōs (dove) and walt (rule). It is most commonly found in the Lower Rheinland area of Germany, where the Dosdall surname dates to the 14th century and is still found today.

In England, the Dosdall name has two possible origins, both of which suggest an occupational source. The first origin is from the Old English dosl (porter or doorman), and the second source is from the Old English word deosl, which means drawer or small wagon. The surname may have been given to those who worked as porters, doormen, or wagon drawers.

The earliest record of the surname in England is from the 13th century, in the records of Count Alan Rufus of Brittany, who gave land to William de Dosle. The records refer to William as a porter, which leads to the hypothesis that the Dosdall name was associated with those who worked as a porter or doorman.

The Dosdall surname can be found today throughout Europe, the United States, Australia, and other parts of the world. Its variations may spell it as Dosell, Dossell, and others. No matter the spelling, the Dosdall surname indicates one of two possible origin stories: a German one possibly originating in the Lower Rheinland area of Germany, or an English occupational origin based on the job of porter or doorman.

Dosdall: Where does the name Dosdall come from?

The last name Dosdall is mostly found in the United States and Canada today.

In the United States, the highest concentrations are found in the states of North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. In the 2020 US Census, the most populous states with the last name Dosdall are Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

In Canada, the last name Dosdall is most commonly found in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In Alberta, the highest density of the Dosdall name will be found in Edmonton where more than 200 people bear the surname. In Saskatchewan, Dosdalls are spread across the province but the highest concentrations are located in the cities of Swift Current and Prince Albert.

There are also a few other countries besides the United States and Canada where the Dosdall family name is found. The United Kingdom, France, Norway, Germany, and Denmark all have very low numbers of people carrying the surname.

In summary, the last name Dosdall is still quite common in the United States, Canada, and a handful of other countries. In the US and Canada, the highest concentrations will be found in the states and provinces mentioned above.

Variations of the surname Dosdall

The Dosdall surname is a variation of the surname Doswald, which is of German and Swedish origins. It is believed to have first appeared in England at the start of the 12th century. The alternate variants and spellings of Dosdall are as follows: Doswald, Dosell, Doswel, Duswald, Duswell, Duswall, Daswell, Dauswald, Dauswel, Daviswell, Daviswill, Davishall, and Davidall.

The surname Dosdall is derived from the ancient personal name “Dosa,” which is a pet form of the given name “Dosithea.” Most people who wear the Dosdall surname are either German or Swedish in origin.

This name can also appear with a variety of other spellings, including Doswald, Duswel, Dauswel and Daviswill. It is believed that many of these alternate spellings were adopted in England in the Middle Ages in order to better fit the spelling conventions of the English Language at that time.

In the United States, the surname Dosdall is particularly prevalent in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It is also relatively common in other Midwestern areas such as Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska.

The surname Dosdall is also spelled with other surnames that have a similar origin, such as the Dutch Daswell, the French Davishall, and the German Davidall. Each of these surnames, however, can be traced back to the same root name: Dosa.

Famous people with the name Dosdall

• Trevor Dosdall: American Football running back.
• Kent Dosdall: former professional ice hockey player.
• Blair Dosdall: former Australian rules footballer.
• Garth Dosdall: former Canadian Football League player.
• Chris Dosdall: Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Stephen Dosdall: Canadian actor.
• William Dosdall: Canadian journalist and broadcaster.
• Steve Dosdall: Canadian politician.
• Dal Dosdall: Canadian singer-songwriter and actor.
• Jonathan Dosdall: British actor.

Other surnames

DosdahlDosdal