Surname Dodgson - Meaning and Origin
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Dodgson: What does the surname Dodgson mean?
Dodgson is an English surname that has its roots in the medieval period. The name is patronymic (derived from the name of a father or ancestor) and is believed to have originated from a personal name "Roger." The "-son" suffix indicates "son of," hence, Dodgson roughly translates to "son of Roger."
The transformation of "Roger" to "Dodg(e)" is attributed to the linguistic phenomenon called metathesis, where the switching of the sounds or letters in a word occurs. Throughout the centuries, "Roger" was often nicknamed to "Rodger," which later evolved into "Hodge," "Dodge," and finally incorporated the suffix "-son" to become Dodgson.
Notably, Dodgson is famously associated with Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, the author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Today, the name Dodgson is found predominantly in England and other English-speaking countries around the world. It is important to note that the meanings of surnames can be speculative, as they have evolved substantially over hundreds of years and may have regional variations.
Order DNA origin analysisDodgson: Where does the name Dodgson come from?
The surname Dodgson is of English origin, derived from the personal name Dodge which is a pet form of Roger. The suffix "son" simply implies "son of Dodge." Thus, Dodgson signifies "son of Dodge." The name began to be used in England, during the era when surnames started to be commonly adopted around the 12th century.
The Dodgson name became widely known due to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, the author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass."
Today, this surname can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, but it is relatively popular in England where it originated. It is also prevalent in the United States and other English-speaking countries. It’s worth noting that the number of individuals with the Dodgson surname is relatively sparse, thus it might not be considered 'common' in the typical use of the word. Nonetheless, England and the United States are likely the places where it can be found the most.
Variations of the surname Dodgson
The surname Dodgson is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is associated with a few variants and alternative spellings. Some of these include Dodson, Dodgshon, Dodgshun, Dodgsonn, and Dojdson.
Dodgson surname is a patronymic form of Dod or Dodd, a popular medieval given name, frequently recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is derived from "Dodda," an Old English personal name, plus "son" which often became patronymic surnames.
In the case of "Dodgson," the 'g' was possibly added for ease of pronunciation. The surname is popularly recognized due to the British writer Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, known by his pen name Lewis Carroll.
These variations in name spellings often occurred due to a lack of standardization in medieval times. It was common that the same person’s surname would be spelled differently within the same document, which led to numerous variants.
Lastly, it's important to remember while tracing genealogy that Dodgson and any of its variants could have been further altered with emigration, translation, or simple misspelling over the years. It may also be localised depending upon the region one comes from.
Famous people with the name Dodgson
- Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: Known by his pseudonym, Lewis Carroll. He is famous as the author of the world-renowned books 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass.'
- Mark Dodgson: He is an internationally renowned academic, a Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Queensland Business School.
- Christopher Dodgson: Also known as Chris Dodgson, he is an English cricket player who has played for teams such as Middlesex County Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club.
- Laurence Dodgson: He is an English artist known for his detailed pen and ink drawings and a recipient of the Prince Philip Designers Prize 2010.
- Jeff Dodgson: A famous financial risk analyst. He was at the head of the global bank risk policy and enterprise risk function for Bank of America.
- John Dodgson: An English scholar of music and a music critic for The Times and The Observer. He is also known for his editorial work on music of the Renaissance period.
- Pauline Dodgson-Katiyo: A Zimbabwean-born academic and author based in the United Kingdom, recognized for her work on African literature and Diaspora culture.