Surname Dolling - Meaning and Origin
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Dolling: What does the surname Dolling mean?
The last name Dolling is believed to have two possible origins. The first origin can be traced to an Anglo Saxon location known as ‘Doling’, found in what is now Greater Manchester, England. This place name was possibly derived from an Old English word meaning ‘summit’. In other cases, Dolling is thought to have derived from the name ‘Dalling’, which may have been derived from an Old English name ‘Dael’. This name was likely of Scandinavian origin, derived from the same source as Germanic personal name ‘Dalh’, indicating a close relationship to royalty.
Throughout history, the Dolling family has grown and flourished and can now be found all over Europe and the United States. In the US, the surname Dolling can be found across many states, including Ohio, New York, Texas, and California.
Dolling is a relatively uncommon last name and one that is steeped in history. Those that carry the Dolling name can take pride in their roots and the history of their last name. Its origins in royalty hint at a family that has overcome obstacles and found success, no matter their changing location.
In modern times, the Dolling family carries on their strong heritage, celebrating the origins of their last name while living full and rewarding lives.
Order DNA origin analysisDolling: Where does the name Dolling come from?
The last name Dolling is still commonly found in various parts of the world today. In the United Kingdom, Dolling is most commonly found in the counties of Kent, Sussex, East Anglia, and London. In the United States, Dolling can be found in almost every state, though the distribution is most heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, where the majority of Dollings reside.
The surname Dolling is believed to have originated in the town of Dollingstown, County Armagh, Ireland. It is believed to come from an old-Irish word meaning “valuable grain.” From there it traveled to England during the 16th century with many of the Irish and Scottish immigrants who settled in the area.
In Australia, Dolling is most common in Queensland and New South Wales. In Canada, Dolling is a fairly popular surname, but is especially concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. In Germany, Dolling is both a popular given name and surname.
To conclude, Dolling is a common surname in the present-day. Though its origins are obscure, its geographical distribution is widespread, with many people bearing the Dolling surname, scattered throughout the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Germany.
Variations of the surname Dolling
The popular surname Dolling has a variety of spellings and variants, all stemming from the same origins. Dolling can be spelled as Doling, Dooling, Dowling, and Dalling, while Dodoling and Dodling are less common and more regionalised. It is likely that many of these variants are merely variations due to English dialect and pronunciation. In most cases, the '-ing' at the end of the surname is dropped, becoming Doll, Dolle and Doul. The often interchangeable ‘w’ and ‘m’ sounds give rise to names such as Dowlem, Doleman and Doelman.
Dolling is likely to have originated in the area of Warwickshire in the 11th century, with the 1005 record of 'Alwinus Dolet' being the earliest surname record discovered. The surname is an Anglicisation of the Germanic names 'Dollisch' or 'Dolling', loosely meaning 'one who is popular' or 'one who is beloved'. Alternative spellings of Dolling can also be found across other countries such as Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Finland.
The Dolling surname has also been used to form alternate surnames such as Dolling-Peters, Dollinger, Dollins and Dollin. For many of these surnames, additional changes such as the replacement of '-ing' with '-er' have been made in order to denote an occupational origin such as a 'diller' or trader.
Overall, Dolling is a popular surname with a range of variants and spellings which stem from the same Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Dolling
- Tim Dolling: Australian musician and singer-songwriter who has released several albums, singles, and EPs.
- Antonia Dolling: British financial writer and editor who has published several books on personal finance, investment, and taxation.
- Felix Dolling: German composer and conductor who, both independently and collaboratively, wrote several compositions of symphonic repertoire.
- Robert Dolling: British civil servant and former Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Progress.
- Margaret Dolling: British actress who has appeared in both television and film.
- Nicholas Dolling: English priest who is the current Dean of Winchester.
- Roy Dolling: British dance enthusiast who authored the publications 'A History of English Step Dancing' and 'The Devil's Dancers'.
- Hilary Dolling: English educator and historian who has written extensively about the history of Wales.
- Mark Dolling: British professional cricketer who has represented Essex cricket club.
- Roger Dolling: British billionaire who founded and runs a number of businesses, mainly in the construction industry.