Dotson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dotson family

The surname Dotson was first found in Cheshire, but “there appears to be no post-Conquest traces of the [Domesday Book reference of] Dodeson; the modern Dodson is due to a simplification of the medial ‘dgs’ or Dodgson.” 1

There is no doubt that the “son” suffix denoted a patronymic extension of the root name “Dodd” or “Dodge.” In the case of the former, Dodd is derived from the “Middle English personal name Dode, Dudde, Old English Dodda, Dudda, which remained in fairly widespread and frequent use in England until the 14th century.” 2

In the case of the latter, Dodge is derived “from the Middle English given name Dogge, a pet for of Roger; [and] possibly a nickname from the Middle English dogge (dog.)” (Oxf)

As far as records of the surname and its early spellings, we found: Brictricus filius Doddi listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Worcestershire 4 and Balterus filius Dude, Walterus Dudde in the 11 century. Aluinus Dode, Dodeson was also listed in the Domesday Book in Hertfordshire. 1