Barking Dogs 2025: Here are the 20 noisiest and quietest breeds of adorable dog - from silent Basenji to vocal Labrador 🐶
By far the most popular pet in the UK, they make for wonderful companions, all the while improving both our mental and physical health - and that's a scientific fact.
The army of dog owners continues to grow, with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds .
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don't have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
There's also always the option of adopting a dog from a dog shelter for a minimal fee - for example from the Dogs Trust .
There's even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren's book 'The Intelligence of Dogs' ranking breeds by instincts the ability to adapt.
One thing to take into consideration is whether a dog that barks or howls could lead to complaints from neighbours, particularly if you live in a flat or apartment.
Or you may want a more vocal breed to act as a guard dog - a bit of barking is likely to deter most intruders.
Whichever is the case, some breeds are far more likley to make a noise than others.
Here are the 20 naturally noisiest - and quietest - breeds of dog.
1 . French Bulldog
We're starting with the pups that are least likely to bark, or make any other kind of noise. The French Bulldog is the second most popular dog in the UK (behind the significantly noisier Labrador Retriever). It is a particularly good choice for those living in flats, since they rarely bark and don't need a huge amount of room. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales
2 . Shiba Inu
The highly intelligent Shiba Inu, originally from Japan, is another dog that usually only barks when there is a very good reason for it to do so. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales
3 . Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
As quiet as they are cute, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They may bark to let you know there's somebody at the door, but other than that they are very different from the more yappy-type small dog breeds. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales
4 . Dobermann
Trustworthy and protective of their families, Dobermanns - also known as Doberman Pinschers - make good guard dogs but are remarkably quiet in normal circumstances. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales
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4 hours ago
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30 surnames that prove you could be descended from real Vikings
Think your family came over with the Normans? This fearsome Viking re-enactor is a reminder that many northern and Scottish surnames trace back to Norse invaders. | Canva This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Think you're pure Scottish? You could be wrong. These 30 surnames still common in Scotland and the north of England may point to Viking ancestry - is yours one of them? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Think you're pure Scottish? You might be surprised. Many Scots have Viking ancestry woven into their DNA, especially in places like Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides and Caithness where Norse settlers didn't just raid, they stayed. And it's not just in your blood. It might be in your name. Research from the University of Leicester and the People of the British Isles project found that parts of northern and coastal Scotland have some of the strongest traces of Viking genetics in the UK. Families in these regions often carry surnames with direct Norse origins, passed down through centuries. Want to see if your name is one of them? You can start your Viking ancestry journey with MyHeritage DNA and explore your family tree in minutes. Here are 30 surnames with strong Viking links, all of which still appear commonly across Scotland. 1. Raven From the Old Norse Hrafn, meaning 'raven'. The raven was a powerful symbol for Norse warriors and is often linked to the god Odin. This surname reflects its deep cultural and mythological roots. 2. Gunn Derived from gunnr, the Old Norse word for 'battle' or 'war'. Found widely across northern Scotland and Orkney, it's also the name of an old Highland clan with Viking origins. 3. Harold / Harald A classic Viking name carried by leaders like King Harald Hardrada, who famously died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. It means 'army ruler' and was popular in both Scandinavian and Anglo-Norse cultures. 4. Ormsby A toponymic name meaning 'Ormr's farm' – Ormr being a Norse personal name meaning serpent or dragon. The suffix -by was used by Vikings to denote a farmstead or settlement and still appears in dozens of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire place names. 5. Thoresen / Thorburn Derived from Þórr, the Norse god of thunder. Names beginning with 'Thor' usually signal a Norse origin and indicate ancestry that honoured or referenced Thor's might and protection. 6. Haldane From Old Norse Halfdan, meaning 'half Dane'. A real surname still found in Scotland, possibly referring to someone born of mixed Norse and native ancestry. Wondering if your surname could link you to the Vikings? You can trace your family tree and find out with MyHeritage DNA – click here to begin 7. Croft From the Norse kropt or kroft, referring to a small enclosed field or farm. The word became rooted in Scottish and northern English landscapes and eventually surnames. 8. Scarth Likely from the Norse word skarthi, meaning 'notched' or 'hare-lipped'. Common in Orkney and parts of Yorkshire. The Scarth family appears in 16th-century land records tied to Norse-descended farming families. 9. Clegg Believed to be from kleggi, meaning 'haystack' or 'mound'. A stronghold surname in West Yorkshire, especially around Rochdale and Oldham. 10. Birkby A compound of birk (birch) and by (settlement). Still found as both a surname and a place name in North and East Yorkshire, tracing back to Danish or Norwegian farming outposts. 11. Tait Common in the Borders, Shetland and Orkney. Possibly from Old Norse teitr, meaning 'glad' or 'cheerful' – a rare example of a Norse name denoting personality rather than place or lineage. 12. Skene A Scottish surname from Aberdeenshire, sometimes traced back to a Norse word for a blade or dagger. The clan motto is 'Virtutis regia merces' – 'virtue is the reward of valour' – further hinting at a warrior heritage. Your family tree could be bigger than you ever imagined — and DNA testing can help you trace its many branches. | Canva 13. MacAulay A Hebridean and Highland name from the Norse personal name Áleifr, meaning 'ancestor's descendant' or 'heir'. Evidence suggests the MacAulays may descend from Viking settlers who integrated with Gaels. 14. Main Found in northern Scotland, particularly Caithness and Orkney. Possibly derived from mæinn, the Old Norse word for 'strong' or 'forceful'. 15. Ketill This personal name meant 'kettle' or 'cauldron' but was commonly used for a helmet in a poetic or symbolic sense. It appears in Norse sagas and survives in names like Kettlewell or Ketilson. 16. Eirikson / Ericson / Eriksen Means 'son of Erik' – one of the most common Viking naming patterns. Erik comes from Eiríkr, meaning 'eternal ruler'. Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, is believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus. 17. Sanderson A northern English patronymic meaning 'son of Sander', itself derived from Sandarr, a Norse personal name related to defender or protector. 18. Foss From Old Norse foss, meaning 'waterfall'. Found in surnames and place names in Yorkshire and Cumbria – often near rivers or rocky outcrops. 19. Thwaite A suffix in dozens of northern English place names like Braithwaite and Micklethwaite. From þveit, meaning 'clearing in the woods' – a sign of Norse agricultural colonisation. 20. Askew Believed to come from askr (ash tree) and skogr (wood), likely referencing a settlement near a wooded area. Found in Lancashire and Yorkshire. 21. Osmond From Old Norse Ásmundr, meaning 'divine protection'. A name passed down by Norse settlers who brought both pagan and Christian influences. 22. Rigg From the Old Norse hryggr, meaning 'ridge'. Found widely in hill-country surnames across Cumbria and the Dales. 23. Rawlinson 'Son of Raoul' – with Raoul or Ralph descending from Ráðulfr, a Norse name meaning 'wise wolf'. A surname common in Lancashire and northern England. 24. Ulf A powerful Norse name meaning 'wolf'. While rare today, it appears in Domesday Book records and some East Anglian settlements in the former Danelaw. 25. Ingerson A patronymic meaning 'son of Inge' or Ingvar, both linked to the Norse god Ing or Yngvi, associated with fertility and prosperity. 26. Janson Means 'son of Jan', with Jan being a Norse adaptation of Johannes. Still common in the Netherlands and northern UK. 27. Colby A compound of Kol (meaning coal or dark) and by (village). Found in Lancashire, Cumbria and parts of Lincolnshire. 28. Halcro Unique to Orkney and Shetland, with deep Norse roots. Believed to derive from a personal name and farm site occupied during the Viking period. 29. Gunnarsen Means 'son of Gunnar', from gunnr (war) and arr (warrior). A classic Norse warrior name that still appears in Scandinavian communities. 30. Leifson Means 'son of Leif'. Leif means 'heir' or 'beloved'. The most famous bearer is Leif Erikson, who explored North America long before the modern age of discovery. Did your name appear? Or maybe one from your extended family? It could be the start of a fascinating journey into Norse ancestry and the Viking history of the North. With MyHeritage, it's free to begin building your family tree. 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Scotsman
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30 surnames that prove you could be descended from real Vikings
Think your family came over with the Normans? This fearsome Viking re-enactor is a reminder that many northern and Scottish surnames trace back to Norse invaders. | Canva This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Think you're pure Scottish? You could be wrong. These 30 surnames still common in Scotland and the north of England may point to Viking ancestry - is yours one of them? Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Think you're pure Scottish? You might be surprised. Many Scots have Viking ancestry woven into their DNA, especially in places like Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides and Caithness where Norse settlers didn't just raid, they stayed. And it's not just in your blood. It might be in your name. Research from the University of Leicester and the People of the British Isles project found that parts of northern and coastal Scotland have some of the strongest traces of Viking genetics in the UK. Families in these regions often carry surnames with direct Norse origins, passed down through centuries. Want to see if your name is one of them? You can start your Viking ancestry journey with MyHeritage DNA and explore your family tree in minutes. Here are 30 surnames with strong Viking links, all of which still appear commonly across Scotland. 1. Raven From the Old Norse Hrafn, meaning 'raven'. The raven was a powerful symbol for Norse warriors and is often linked to the god Odin. This surname reflects its deep cultural and mythological roots. 2. Gunn Derived from gunnr, the Old Norse word for 'battle' or 'war'. Found widely across northern Scotland and Orkney, it's also the name of an old Highland clan with Viking origins. 3. Harold / Harald A classic Viking name carried by leaders like King Harald Hardrada, who famously died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. It means 'army ruler' and was popular in both Scandinavian and Anglo-Norse cultures. 4. Ormsby A toponymic name meaning 'Ormr's farm' – Ormr being a Norse personal name meaning serpent or dragon. The suffix -by was used by Vikings to denote a farmstead or settlement and still appears in dozens of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire place names. 5. Thoresen / Thorburn Derived from Þórr, the Norse god of thunder. Names beginning with 'Thor' usually signal a Norse origin and indicate ancestry that honoured or referenced Thor's might and protection. 6. Haldane From Old Norse Halfdan, meaning 'half Dane'. A real surname still found in Scotland, possibly referring to someone born of mixed Norse and native ancestry. Wondering if your surname could link you to the Vikings? You can trace your family tree and find out with MyHeritage DNA – click here to begin 7. Croft From the Norse kropt or kroft, referring to a small enclosed field or farm. The word became rooted in Scottish and northern English landscapes and eventually surnames. 8. Scarth Likely from the Norse word skarthi, meaning 'notched' or 'hare-lipped'. Common in Orkney and parts of Yorkshire. The Scarth family appears in 16th-century land records tied to Norse-descended farming families. 9. Clegg Believed to be from kleggi, meaning 'haystack' or 'mound'. A stronghold surname in West Yorkshire, especially around Rochdale and Oldham. 10. Birkby A compound of birk (birch) and by (settlement). Still found as both a surname and a place name in North and East Yorkshire, tracing back to Danish or Norwegian farming outposts. 11. Tait Common in the Borders, Shetland and Orkney. Possibly from Old Norse teitr, meaning 'glad' or 'cheerful' – a rare example of a Norse name denoting personality rather than place or lineage. 12. Skene A Scottish surname from Aberdeenshire, sometimes traced back to a Norse word for a blade or dagger. The clan motto is 'Virtutis regia merces' – 'virtue is the reward of valour' – further hinting at a warrior heritage. Your family tree could be bigger than you ever imagined — and DNA testing can help you trace its many branches. | Canva 13. MacAulay A Hebridean and Highland name from the Norse personal name Áleifr, meaning 'ancestor's descendant' or 'heir'. Evidence suggests the MacAulays may descend from Viking settlers who integrated with Gaels. 14. Main Found in northern Scotland, particularly Caithness and Orkney. Possibly derived from mæinn, the Old Norse word for 'strong' or 'forceful'. 15. Ketill This personal name meant 'kettle' or 'cauldron' but was commonly used for a helmet in a poetic or symbolic sense. It appears in Norse sagas and survives in names like Kettlewell or Ketilson. 16. Eirikson / Ericson / Eriksen Means 'son of Erik' – one of the most common Viking naming patterns. Erik comes from Eiríkr, meaning 'eternal ruler'. Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, is believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus. 17. Sanderson A northern English patronymic meaning 'son of Sander', itself derived from Sandarr, a Norse personal name related to defender or protector. 18. Foss From Old Norse foss, meaning 'waterfall'. Found in surnames and place names in Yorkshire and Cumbria – often near rivers or rocky outcrops. 19. Thwaite A suffix in dozens of northern English place names like Braithwaite and Micklethwaite. From þveit, meaning 'clearing in the woods' – a sign of Norse agricultural colonisation. 20. Askew Believed to come from askr (ash tree) and skogr (wood), likely referencing a settlement near a wooded area. Found in Lancashire and Yorkshire. 21. Osmond From Old Norse Ásmundr, meaning 'divine protection'. A name passed down by Norse settlers who brought both pagan and Christian influences. 22. Rigg From the Old Norse hryggr, meaning 'ridge'. Found widely in hill-country surnames across Cumbria and the Dales. 23. Rawlinson 'Son of Raoul' – with Raoul or Ralph descending from Ráðulfr, a Norse name meaning 'wise wolf'. A surname common in Lancashire and northern England. 24. Ulf A powerful Norse name meaning 'wolf'. While rare today, it appears in Domesday Book records and some East Anglian settlements in the former Danelaw. 25. Ingerson A patronymic meaning 'son of Inge' or Ingvar, both linked to the Norse god Ing or Yngvi, associated with fertility and prosperity. 26. Janson Means 'son of Jan', with Jan being a Norse adaptation of Johannes. Still common in the Netherlands and northern UK. 27. Colby A compound of Kol (meaning coal or dark) and by (village). Found in Lancashire, Cumbria and parts of Lincolnshire. 28. Halcro Unique to Orkney and Shetland, with deep Norse roots. Believed to derive from a personal name and farm site occupied during the Viking period. 29. Gunnarsen Means 'son of Gunnar', from gunnr (war) and arr (warrior). A classic Norse warrior name that still appears in Scandinavian communities. 30. Leifson Means 'son of Leif'. Leif means 'heir' or 'beloved'. The most famous bearer is Leif Erikson, who explored North America long before the modern age of discovery. Did your name appear? Or maybe one from your extended family? It could be the start of a fascinating journey into Norse ancestry and the Viking history of the North. With MyHeritage, it's free to begin building your family tree. You can also order a DNA kit and discover your genetic connection to Scandinavia, Viking settlements and more – all for just £33. This article was produced with the support of AI tools to assist in sourcing and structuring information. All content has been reviewed, verified and completed by a National World journalist prior to publication. Canva Uncover your family's hidden connections with an exclusive MyHeritage DNA kit £ 29.00 Buy now Buy now Every generation, your family tree branches wider — yet most of your extended relatives are strangers to you. A DNA test can help change that. MyHeritage DNA doesn't just estimate your ethnic makeup; it connects you to real living relatives and uncovers the stories of your ancestors' journeys. From Viking roots in Orkney to Sephardic Jewish heritage, or even surprise half-siblings, your DNA holds the key to discovering the family you never knew you had.
Scotsman
2 days ago
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Most Popular Dogs of 2025 So Far: Here are the 13 top dogs of the year according to latest figures - led by the loving Labrador Retriever
When it comes to popular pets, the dog rules the roost - there are around 13.5 million living in the UK, meaning more than one-in-three households has a furry friend. There are a remarkable 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, according to the UK Kennel Club, alongside numerous popular crossbreeds , like Labradoodles and Cockapoos. Breeds go in and out of style over the years, but the Kennel Club keeps a close eye on them, publishing regular registration statistics. Traditionally the Labrador Retriever is the UK's - and the world's - most popular dog, but it's been challenged in recent years by trendy breeds like the French Bulldog and the Dachshund. Here are the 15 most popular breeds of pedigree dogs right now, according to the Kennel Club figures for the first quarter of 2025 - and how many have been registered. 1 . Labrador Retriever They are the world's most popular dog and the Labrador Retriever remains the most commonly registered breed of any size in the UK by quite some distance. There were a huge 34,141 new Labradors registered with the Kennel Club last year - meaning it easily tops the list of most common large dog breeds. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Golden Retriever The second most popular large dog is the Golden Retriever, with 10,201 new registrations last year. The breed was created by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks at his Scottish estate in the late nineteenth century. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . German Shepherd One of the world's most useful dogs, the German Shepherd was originally bred as a herding dog but now is popular for everything from disability assistance and search-and-rescue work, to helping the police hunt criminals and serving in the army. They are also great companion pets, with 4,817 registrations in 2024 - making them the third most popular large dog breed. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . Boxer The top dog in the Kennel Club's working group is the adorable Boxer, with 2,427 registrations in 2024 - making it the fourth most popular large dog breed. The Boxer was bred from the Old English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser. | Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales
