Surname Dodds - Meaning and Origin

Dodds: What does the surname Dodds mean?

The surname Dodds is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from the personal name "Dodde" or "Dudda". The exact meaning of these names is uncertain; however, it is thought to be a pet form of Roger or Rodger. The "s" at the end of the name means "son of", signifying a patronymic origin. So the meaning of Dodds could be interpreted as "son of Dodde/Dudda". The surname first emerged in Yorkshire, England, where the Dodd family held a family seat, indicating that they occupied an influential, hereditary position in the region. Various derivatives of the surname include Dodd, Dod, Dodson, and Dodgson. The name is indeed very old and can be traced back to pre-7th-century Anglo-Saxon England. Notable people with the surname Dodds include economist Charles Dodds, jazz musician Johnny Dodds, and American football player Antonio Dodds.

Dodds: Where does the name Dodds come from?

Dodds is a surname of ancient Northern English and Scottish origin. It is a patronymic form of "Dod" or "Dodd," a nickname for Roger which was popular in the Middle Ages. The suffix 's' signifies "son of," thus Dodds means "son of Dod."

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Dodde, which was dated 1279, in the "Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire," during the reign of King Edward 1 of England. Over time, the name spread across regions and countries.

Today, it is common in English-speaking countries, with significant concentrations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, United States, and New Zealand. However, it is predominantly found in Northern England and Scotland, indicating its strong regional ties to these areas. According to Forebears, the Dodds surname is most common in England, ranking 449th in the list of most common surnames, followed by Scotland and Australia where it ranks 509th and 786th respectively.

Variations of the surname Dodds

Dodds is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, with various interpretations including 'son of Dodd', 'beloved', or 'round'. Variants of the surname Dodds can appear with single or double 'd's and 's's, such as Dod, Dodd, Dods or Dodes. More extended versions like Dodson, meaning 'son of Dod', are also common.

In terms of spelling variations, these differ according to geographical region and over historical eras. Some of these include Dodde, Doidge, Doodge, and Dot. Doddridge (meaning 'the ridge owned by Dodd') is also seen.

It's worth noting that cultural migration has resulted in further spellings and phonetic variants, especially seen in countries such as Scotland, America, and Canada, where the name may also appear as Dotz or Tzodds.

The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' which means 'son of' in Gaelic languages, has given rise to Scottish variants such as McDodd or MacDodd. Patronymic versions of the name, like Dodsone and Dodding, are often seen in Scotland.

When examining variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Dodds, it's clear this name has evolved considerably across nations and centuries.

Famous people with the name Dodds

• Maggie Dodds: Maggie Dodds was a women's soccer player and a coach for the England national team.
• Jordan Dodds: Jordan Dodds is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Melbourne City FC in the A-League.
• Eric Dodds: Eric Dodds is a Scottish retired professional footballer who played for both Rangers and Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
• Billy Dodds: Billy Dodds is a former professional football player and manager who played for several teams in the Scottish Premier League and the English Premier League.
• Bob Dodds: Bob Dodds is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and San Francisco Giants.
• Henry Dodds: Henry Dodds is a retired professional footballer who played the majority of his career for Scottish club, Dundee United.
• Bill Dodds: Bill Dodds is a former American football player who played both college and professional football as a quarterback. He played college football at the Ohio State university and went on to play professionally for both the Baltimore Colts and the Denver Broncos.
• Chris Dodds: Chris Dodds is a former professional football player who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He played for a variety of teams in Major League Soccer, the United Soccer Leagues, and the USISL.
• Beau Dodds: Beau Dodds is an American actor who has appeared in a variety of television shows and movies.
• Jack Dodds: Jack Dodds is a retired professional soccer player from Scotland, who played for several teams in the English Premier League.

Other surnames

DoddDoddridgeDoddy