What Does the Name Dawson Mean?
Dawson means "son of Daw," combining the medieval nickname Daw, a short form of David, with the patronymic suffix "-son." Since David itself means "beloved" in Hebrew, Dawson is sometimes glossed as "son of the beloved."
The Origin & History of Dawson
As an English surname, Dawson dates back to the Middle Ages, formed from the common medieval practice of shortening David to Daw and adding "-son" to mark lineage. It moved into first-name use gradually before a sharp spike in the late 1990s.
Cultural Reach
Dawson's leap into mainstream first-name use is closely tied to the television drama Dawson's Creek (1998–2003); the number of American boys named Dawson increased roughly tenfold between 1997 and 1999 following the show's debut.
Famous People Named Dawson
Notable bearers of the surname include Richard Dawson, the British-American actor and longtime host of Family Feud, and Rosario Dawson, the American actress known for roles in Sin City and Rent — both carrying Dawson as a family name rather than a given name.
Nicknames & Variations
Dawson is typically used as a complete name without a shortened form, occasionally trimmed to "Daw" informally. It belongs to the same surname-name family as Jackson, Mason, and Grayson.
Is Dawson a Good Name in 2026?
Dawson has held a remarkably steady place among American boys' names for over two decades, a rare surname-name that hasn't faded after its initial TV-driven spike, still valued for its easy, friendly sound.