Dow
A surname that may come from a Gaelic word for “black,” a Scottish word for “dove,” or an old personal nickname of David.
The #2,356 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 19,955 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Dow is explained in older sources in more than one way, so its origin is not certain. One proposal links it to Gaelic du/dubh, meaning “black,” while another takes it from Scots doo, “dove” or “pigeon.” It may also represent a short form of a personal name, especially David, which helped generate related surnames such as Dowson and Dowsett.
History
Lower notes that Dow appears in historical records without a prefix and may have functioned as a personal name as well as a surname. Bardsley also connects it with the familiar pet-name form of David, which would fit the many later surnames built from Dow. The name is found in Britain, especially in Scotland and northern England, and related place-names such as Dowsby may reflect the same root.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname writers specifically debated whether Dow meant “black” or “dove,” which makes it a good example of how a short surname can have more than one plausible origin.
From the historical record
“DOW DORLING. Probably the same as Dar- ling. A.S. (Icurli/iff. DORMAN. A-Sax. ddr, a gate or large door, and »ia7i. A door-keeper, porter. DORMAR. See Dormer. DORMER. Collins traces Lord Dormer's”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom