Surname Doulton - Meaning and Origin
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Doulton: What does the surname Doulton mean?
The last name Doulton is an English occupational name that likely originated from the area known as Doultons in nearby Warwickshire. It is derived from the Old English words dun (“hill”) and tun (“enclosure” or “settlement”). The name is thought to be first recorded in the 13th century, contraction of the words Dunaletun which appeared in the Feet of Fines which was a register of the fines imposed by the King's Court between 1198 and 1293AD.
The earliest bearer of the name that has been identified so far is Adam de Doultun, recorded in the Lincolnshire Subsidy Rolls in 1296. By the 16th century, the surname was being found in the counties of Kent, Essex, Warwickshire, Somerset, and Nottinghamshire.
The surname Doulton has been used by several prominent families throughout British history. In the 19th century, Henry Doulton received a royal warrant from Queen Victoria and became a well known manufacturer of pottery. More recently, Baroness Doulton is currently part of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
The name Doulton continues to be quite common throughout the United Kingdom today. It is still found in its original areas, but also in other parts of England as well as Owerri, Nigeria, where it was taken by some settlers from England during the colonial period.
Order DNA origin analysisDoulton: Where does the name Doulton come from?
The last name Doulton is most common today in the United Kingdom and its former colonies. In England, the surname Doulton is especially prevalent in the South West and London regions. According to the Office of National Statistics, the surname Doulton ranked 9,943rd most popular name in England in 2019.
In Scotland, the surname is relatively rare. The Scottish government’s A-Z of Surnames counted just 43 instances of the name as of 2018. It is not among the top 500 most common surnames in Scotland.
Australian records listed the last name Doulton as the 10,320th most common name in 2019. However, in its former colonies such as Canada and New Zealand, the last name is less common. The Canadian and New Zealand censuses of 2021 did not even list the surname Doulton in the top 20,000 names.
While the last name Doulton has spread throughout the English-speaking world, it does not maintain the same level of popularity in every country. Its highest concentration remains in the UK, where the history and popularity of the name dates back to around the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Doulton
The surname Doulton is an English surname derived from the place names of Dalton or Doltone. It is also spelled as Daulton, Daltone, Doltone and Dewlton. Early records of the surname date to the 13th century, when records of the name appear in the Court Rolls of Somerset and the Hundred Rolls of 1273.
Variants of the surname include Doull, Dowl, Dowll, Dowle, Dovle and Doll. These spellings are possibly derived from the Middle English word ‘dowle’, meaning ‘diminutive’. It is also possible that the surname derived from the Old English ‘dolf’, meaning ‘lazy’ or ‘sluggish’.
Surnames of the same origin include Dowling, Dole, Doolittle, Dolly and Doolan. The surname Dowling is an English patronymic name derived from the nickname ‘Dole’, which is short for ‘dagon’ meaning ‘haughty’ or ‘arrogant’. The surname Dole has multiple origins, but the most common theory is that it was derived from the old English ‘dael’, which means ‘valley’. The surname Doolittle is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic ‘duille’, meaning ‘little’. The surnames Dolly and Doolan are both derived from the Irish ‘dulan’, meaning ‘dark-haired’.
In summary, the surname Doulton has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants include Doull, Dowl, Dowll, Dowle, Dovle and Doll. Other surnames of the same origin include Dowling, Dole, Doolittle, Dolly and Doolan.
Famous people with the name Doulton
- Alexander Doulton: 19th century English manufacturer of pottery and ceramics.
- Harry Doulton: 20th century English artist and designer.
- Thomas Doulton: English ceramic artist, renowned for his contribution to the development of the Royal Doulton porcelain company.
- Tanya Doulton: Contemporary London-based artist, known for her abstract landscapes.
- Lisa Doulton: Producer and composer, who wrote and composed the 2020 cinematic release ‘Dynamite’.
- David Doulton: British theatre producer, known best for producing the West End hit musical ‘The Producers’.
- Sam Doulton: English jazz musician and singer-songwriter.
- Charles Doulton: British politician who served as Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1880 to 1885.
- Gilbert Doulton: Scottish footballer, known for his stints at Dundee FC and Sunderland AFC between the 1940s and 50s.
- Tony Doulton: Australian footballer who played for St. Kilda in the early 60s.