Dawson is a name of English origin, derived from the surname Dawson. The surname Dawson is believed to have originated from two possible sources: it could be a habitational name for someone who lived at one of several places named Dawson in England, such as those in Northumberland and Durham, or it could be a nickname given to someone with a dark complexion or hair color, as the word "dawson" was used to describe a dark-haired person in Middle English.
The name Dawson has been in use for many centuries and has been passed down through generations of families. It is thought that the name may have been brought to England by Norse invaders, who named their settlements after natural features such as rivers or valleys. The name Dawson has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including Sir John Dawson, a 16th-century English courtier and politician.
Today, Dawson is still a popular choice of name for boys in English-speaking countries around the world. It is often associated with the American actor James Van Der Beek, who played the character Dawson Leery on the hit television show "Dawson's Creek" during the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, despite its pop culture associations, Dawson remains a name with a rich history and meaningful origins that date back centuries.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Dawson has seen fluctuations in popularity over the past two decades in the United States. The number of births with the name Dawson reached its lowest point in 2005 with only 19 births that year. However, since then, there has been a steady increase in the popularity of the name.
In 2016, there were 82 births with the name Dawson, marking a significant rise from previous years. This trend continued into 2017 with 98 births and peaked at 100 births in 2023. Overall, between 1998 and 2023, there have been a total of 1226 births with the name Dawson in the United States.
While the popularity of the name Dawson has varied over time, it is clear that it has gained traction in recent years, reaching an all-time high in 2023. This information can be useful for parents considering naming their child Dawson and wanting to understand its current popularity trend in the United States.