How to say it
DAW · son
/ˈdɔ.sən/
Masculine
Dawson
Son of Daw (David)
What it means
English surname meaning 'son of Daw,' where Daw was a medieval pet form of David. Dawson's Creek (1998-2003, James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery) brought the surname into US first-name use.
Dawson is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Daw,' where Daw was a medieval English pet form of David. The surname has been documented since the 14th century in Yorkshire and Lancashire. As a first name Dawson is American and modern. Dawson's Creek (the WB teen drama running 1998-2003 with James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery) gave the name its decisive 1990s anchor and pushed it into the US top 500. It's been steady in the top 200 to 250 range since 2003. Common short: Daw or Dawse, though both are uncommon.
Popularity over time
peaked at #136 in 1999, currently #143 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003) is the dominant US cultural anchor; the surname predates the show by 600 years but the first-name use is basically the show.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Dawson Leery James Van Der Beek's character in Dawson's Creek, 1998-2003
Spelling variants
- Dawsen
- Dawsyn
Names with the same feeling
See Dawson from another angle
By style