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Dawson Name Meaning, Origins & History

Dawson

Pronunciation: DAW-sun

Meaning Son of David Origin Old English Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#143
TREND
4
GIRLS RANK
#2,260
TREND
151
Peak Years
1999, 2024, 2025
Lowest Years
1885, 1898, 1889
Energy Archetype
Practical & Determined

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Dawson in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Dawson

  • More than 54 thousand babies named Dawson: U.S. records list 54,178 babies given the name Dawson from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,397 girls received the name Dawson - about 1 girl for every 38 boys.

What Does the Name Dawson Mean?

Dawson is an English patronymic surname meaning "son of Daw." Daw is a medieval short form of the personal name David, which comes from Hebrew and is traditionally explained as "beloved." The -son ending is the usual northern English and Scottish way of forming a patronymic, so the surname identifies its first bearer as the son of a man called Daw. A secondary explanation connects Daw with the Middle English word for the jackdaw, a chattering bird, used as a nickname; on that reading the meaning would be "son of the jackdaw" or "son of a chatterer." The David derivation is the one most often cited, but the exact sense of Daw in a particular family name can be uncertain.

Dawson Name History & Origins

The surname Dawson developed in medieval England. It belongs to the large group of patronymics formed with -son, a pattern especially common in northern England and Scotland. Its first element is the Middle English personal name Daw, a short form of David. The biblical name David came into English through Greek and Latin. It was widely used in medieval Britain: in Wales the related form Dewi is associated with Saint David, and in Scotland King David I helped make David a common royal name. From the personal name Daw, surnames such as Dawson were formed. The surname is particularly associated with Yorkshire and neighboring northern counties.

Dawson is also used as a given name, chiefly for boys, as a transferred surname. It appears in English-speaking countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. A modern familiar use is the television drama Dawson's Creek (1998 - 2003), whose central character is Dawson Leery; this is a literary use of the name, not its origin. Related patronymic surnames from David include Davison and Davidson, but Dawson's specific parent name is Daw.

How Popular is the Name Dawson?

Dawson recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1999. Its best rank was #136 in 1999.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Dawson Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Dawson's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dawson's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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