Meaning and origin
The last name Doss has its origins in both Scottish and English backgrounds. Derived from the medieval given name "Daw," meaning "David" in Old English, it was commonly used as a nickname for a beloved family member. In Scotland, the name is a variation of the Gaelic "O'Dochartaigh," which means "descendant of the hearth" or "son of the physician." As clans migrated and settled in different regions, variations of the name evolved over time.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,687
Doss was the 1,687th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,366 people, about 6.9 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Doss
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Doss is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.