Surname Dawkins - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Personal Identity and Heritage: Insights from my iGENEA DNA Test

Armed with the knowledge provided by the iGENEA DNA test, I found myself taking an enlightening journey into my genetic heritage. It has profoundly affected my understanding of personal identity and the rich heritage attached to the Dawkins surname.

R. Dawkins

Dawkins: What does the surname Dawkins mean?

The last name Dawkins is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English personal name Dauke, which itself is derived from the Old English personal name Daka, believed to come from the Old Norse Dagr, meaning "day". The surname is believed to have been first used in the 12th century in Britain.

The most notable bearer of the Dawkins surname is the evolutionary biologist and philosopher, Richard Dawkins. His grandfather, William Boyd Dawkins, was an archaeologist and geologist, having studied the caves of Derbyshire. He was also an avid traveler, having taken journeys to the Middle East in the 1870s as part of an exploration of the Near East.

The Dawkins surname most likely originated as a patronymic, meaning that it indicated a son or descendant of Dauke or another ancestor with the given name Dagr. Over the years, the surname has come to refer to any descendant of the original bearer of the name.

Today, the Dawkins surname is most common in Great Britain, but is also found in other parts of the world, including Australia, the United States, and Canada. Those who bear the surname often share a connection to the early explorers of Britain, but they can also find pride in the accomplishments of Richard Dawkins and his forefathers.

Dawkins: Where does the name Dawkins come from?

The surname ‘Dawkins’ is most common today in Britain, particularly in the South of the country. A study from 2019 found the most concentrated population of this surname near locations in London, East Anglia, and South East England.

It is likely that the name derived from the Old English and Anglo-Norman name ‘D’Acques’, which would have been passed down through generations.

The name also has spread further abroad. It is particularly common in the US, with the highest concentrations in Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Arizona.

For those whose ancestors emigrated from Britain, the name has also spread to other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, and India.

The surname is so common, it has often spawned variations of the name, such as ‘Dakin’, ‘Dakyns’, ‘D'Acques,’ and ‘Dix’, although it is almost certain these individuals all share a common ancestor from centuries ago.

Because of the name's varying appeal, it is now relatively easy to track down those with the surname within certain family crest websites, which aim to trace family lines.

With its geographical location appearing in different parts of the world, it is evident that this surname is highly distinctive, yet very much still alive in the 21st century.

Variations of the surname Dawkins

Dawkins is a surname of English origin likely derived from either the Old English personal name "Dauoc" or the Old English term “dsec”, meaning a small ditch or channel. Variants of the name include Dawkin, Dawkins, Daukin, Dawkyns, Dawkyn and Dawkings. The patronymic 'son of Dauoc' would be Dawkinsson. Alternate spellings of the name include Dawkings, Dawkinson, and Dawk salvaged from old bastardizations of the original spelling.

Due to the migration of the English all over the world, Dawkins can be found in many countries other than the UK. Particular notable variants of the name are found in France as D'Auguin and in Ireland as Deagan.

The variation of the word Dawkins into other languages is also a strong possibility and it is likely that some branches of the Dawkins family could have many different variant spellings throughout the world. In German the name is spelled Dawken, while in Dutch the name is spelled Dawkin.

In Spanish the name could be spelled Daúque as well as Daúquenes, while in French variants such as D'Aukin, D'Aughin and D'Auguin are the most common. In Wales, where there is a long history of some families using the English language the spelling Dawkins can generally be found in it original form, but on occasion Dawkin is spelt as Dawkyns.

The surnames Dauk and Daok date back to the Middle Ages and are related to the original surname of Dawkins, although they were more likely to be found in Scotland or Northern England. In Scotland, popular variants of the name Dawkins include Dawkison, Dawins and Daukens.

Famous people with the name Dawkins

• Richard Dawkins: Richard Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist and author who is known for popularizing the theory of evolution and atheism. He has written many books such as The Selfish Gene, The God Delusion, and The Greatest Show on Earth.
• Marian Dawkins: Marian Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist and an Emeritus Fellow of New College, Oxford. She is a leading animal behaviorist who has written several books on the subject; among them Mind the Gap, Animal Traditions, and Beyond Nature vs Nurture.
• Marlyne Dawkins: Marlyne Dawkins is a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland. She is known for her work in the fields of social psychology, family studies, and black psychology.
• Bobby Dawkins: Bobby Dawkins is an American businessman and a former professional basketball player. He is the founder and CEO of Everything Dawkins, a global lifestyle brand.
• Jordan Dawkins: Jordan Dawkins is a professional American football player who plays wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. He is known for his speed and agility on the field.
• Daisy Dawkins: Daisy Dawkins is a British-born artist known for her abstract and surrealist paintings. She has held many exhibitions in the UK and internationally.
• Calvin Dawkins: Calvin Dawkins is a professional soccer player who plays for the English Premier League club, Bristol City. He is known for his ability to create chances for his team mates and find the net himself.

Other surnames

DawkinDawking

Comments or additions to the name "Dawkins"

10.02.2024
Ann Dawkins lives in Cork
In Republic of Ireland. Daughter of John Dawkins and granddaughter of William Dawkins.