This article will explore the fascinating world of last names that start with D. From Davis to D’Amico, we will explore the meaning behind each name and shed light on their cultural significance. Whether you are interested in genealogy, history, or simply curious about the world around you, this article is sure to provide insight into the fascinating world of last names that start with D.
Last Names That Start with D
Understanding Last Names that Start with D
Last names, also known as surnames, are an important part of our identity. They are passed down from generation to generation and can tell us a lot about our family history and ancestry. In this article, we will explore the most common last names that start with the letter D, their meanings, and origins.
According to the 1940 census, the most common last name beginning with the letter D was Davis, followed by Dunn and Dixon. These names are of English origin and are derived from occupational or locational names. For example, Davis is derived from the name David, which means “beloved” in Hebrew. Dunn is derived from the Old English word “dun”, which means “hill”, while Dixon is derived from the name Richard, which means “brave ruler”.
Other popular last names that start with D include Daniels, Diaz, and Donovan. Daniels is of English origin and means “son of Daniel”, while Diaz is of Spanish origin and means “son of Diego”. Donovan is of Irish origin and means “dark-haired chieftain”.
There are also many unique last names that start with D, such as Dakota, Davenport, and Delacruz. Dakota is of Native American origin and means “friend” or “ally”, while Davenport is of English origin and means “from the town of Davenport”. Delacruz is of Spanish origin and means “of the cross”.
Last Names That Start with D
Common Last Names
According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Davis was the most common last name beginning with the letter D, followed by Dunn and Dixon. Today, the most popular last name starting with D in America is Davis, with over 1 million people having this surname. Here are some other common last names that start with D:
- Daniels
- Davidson
- Dawson
- Day
- Dean
- Delgado
- Dennis
- Diaz
- Dixon
- Douglas
Unique Last Names
In addition to the more common last names, there are also many unique last names that start with D. Some of these names have interesting meanings or origins, while others are simply uncommon. Here are a few examples:
- Dakota
- Davenport
- Delacruz
- Delaney
- Dempsey
- Denning
- Derby
- Devine
- Dexter
- Diangelo
D Last Names with Meanings
Many last names have meanings that can give us insight into their origins. Here are some last names that start with D and their meanings:
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Davis | Son of David |
| Dawson | Son of David |
| Delgado | The thin one |
| Diaz | Son of Diego |
| Dixon | Son of Richard |
| Douglas | Dark water |
| Dunn | Brown |
| Durham | Hill island |
| Duval | From the valley |
D Last Names with Historical Significance
Some last names that start with D have historical significance, whether because of the people who bore them or the events they were associated with. Here are a few examples:
- Darwin: Named after Charles Darwin, the famous biologist who developed the theory of evolution.
- Darrow: Named after Clarence Darrow, a famous American lawyer known for his involvement in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
- Darwin: Named after Charles Darwin, the famous biologist who developed the theory of evolution.
- DeLorean: Named after John DeLorean, an American engineer and automobile executive who founded the DeLorean Motor Company.
Historical Origin of Common D Last Names
English D Last Names
English last names that start with D are often derived from occupations or locations. Some of the most common English D last names include:
- Davies: Derived from the Welsh name “Dafydd,” meaning “beloved.”
- Dawson: Derived from the Middle English word “daas,” meaning “day’s eye” or “daisy.”
- Day: Derived from the Old English word “dæg,” meaning “day.”
- Dean: Derived from the Old English word “dēn,” meaning “valley.”
- Dixon: Derived from the Old English name “Dic,” meaning “son of Dick.”
Irish D Last Names
Irish last names that start with D are often derived from Gaelic words or names. Some of the most common Irish D last names include:
- Doyle: Derived from the Gaelic name “Dubhghaill,” meaning “dark stranger.”
- Duffy: Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Dubhthaigh,” meaning “descendant of Dubhthach.”
- Donovan: Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Donnabháin,” meaning “descendant of Donnabhán.”
- Dempsey: Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Díomasaigh,” meaning “descendant of Díomasach.”
- Devlin: Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Dobhailen,” meaning “descendant of Dobhailen.”
Italian D Last Names
Italian last names that start with D are often derived from the names of towns or regions. Some of the most common Italian D last names include:
- De Luca: Derived from the name of the town of Luca in Tuscany.
- Di Napoli: Derived from the name of the city of Naples.
- D’Angelo: Derived from the name Angelo, meaning “angel.”
- De Santis: Derived from the name of the town of Santis in Calabria.
- Di Giovanni: Derived from the name Giovanni, meaning “God is gracious.”
Spanish D Last Names
Spanish last names that start with D are often derived from patronymic names or locations. Some of the most common Spanish D last names include:
- Diaz: Derived from the patronymic name “Diego,” meaning “supplanter.”
- Dominguez: Derived from the name “Domingo,” meaning “Lord’s day.”
- Delgado: Derived from the Spanish word “delgado,” meaning “thin.”
- Duran: Derived from the name of the town of Durango in the Basque region.
- De La Cruz: Derived from the Spanish words “de la cruz,” meaning “of the cross.”
Geographical Distribution of Last Names that Start with D
United States
According to the 1940 US Census, Davis was the most common last name beginning with the letter D, followed by Dunn and Dixon. Other popular last names that start with D in the US include:
- Daniels
- Douglas
- Dean
- Day
- Duncan
- Doyle
- Donovan
- Durham
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the most common D last name is Davies, followed by Davis and Dixon. Other popular D last names in the UK include:
- Day
- Douglas
- Dean
- Doyle
- Dalton
- Duncan
- Dunn
- Duffy
Canada
In Canada, the most common D last name is Davis, followed by Douglas and Dixon. Other popular D last names in Canada include:
- Day
- Dean
- Doyle
- Duncan
- Dunn
- Daniels
- Davidson
Australia
In Australia, the most common D last name is Davis, followed by Davies and Dixon. Other popular D last names in Australia include:
- Day
- Douglas
- Doyle
- Dalton
- Daniels
- Dean
- Donovan
- Dunne
Other Countries
The Forebears Names database provides information on the distribution of last names in various countries around the world. According to this database, the most common D last name globally is Das, which is particularly popular in India. Other popular D last names around the world include:
- Díaz (Spain)
- Da Silva (Brazil)
- De Jong (Netherlands)
- Dubois (France)
- Dvorak (Czech Republic)
- Dziedzic (Poland)
Famous People with D Last Names
Many famous people have last names that start with D. Here are some notable individuals with D last names:
Actors and Actresses
- Robert De Niro
- Johnny Depp
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Cameron Diaz
- Matt Damon
- Zooey Deschanel
- Judy Dench
- Vin Diesel
- Peter Dinklage
- Daniel Day-Lewis
Musicians
- Miles Davis
- Bob Dylan
- Celine Dion
Athletes
- Novak Djokovic
- Joe DiMaggio
- Eric Dickerson.
Politicians
- Angela Davis
- Benjamin Disraeli
- Salvador Dali
- John Dewey
Authors
- Charles Dickens
- Roald Dahl
- Emily Dickinson
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Joan Didion
- Junot Diaz
- Don DeLillo
- Arthur Conan Doyle
Scientists
- Charles Darwin
- Richard Dawkins
- Rene Descartes
- Freeman Dyson
- Paul Dirac
- Max Delbruck
- John Dalton
As you can see, there are many famous people with last names that start with “D.” Whether they are actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, authors, or scientists, these individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Unique Last Names that Start with D
Last names that start with the letter D are quite common, but some are more unique than others. In this section, we will cover some of the most distinctive last names that start with D, along with their meanings and origins.
D’Amico
D’Amico is an Italian last name that means “the friend.” It is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. The name is most commonly found in Southern Italy.
D’Angelo
D’Angelo is another Italian last name that means “of the angels.” It is also a patronymic name and is most commonly found in Southern Italy. The name has become popular in the United States, where it is often shortened to Angelo.
D’Arcy
D’Arcy is an Irish last name that means “dark-haired.” It is derived from the Gaelic word “dubh,” which means dark or black. The name is most commonly found in County Galway in Ireland.
Dabney
Dabney is an English last name that means “from Aubigne.” Aubigne is a town in France, and the name was likely given to someone who came from there. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Dacosta
Dacosta is a Portuguese last name that means “of the coast.” It is a locational name, which means it is derived from the name of a place. The name is most commonly found in Portugal and Brazil.
Dallin
Dallin is an English last name that means “from the valley.” It is derived from the Old English word “dæl,” which means valley. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Dane
Dane is an English last name that means “from Denmark.” It is a locational name, which means it is derived from the name of a place. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Danvers
Danvers is an English last name that means “from Anvers.” Anvers is a town in France, and the name was likely given to someone who came from there. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Darcy
Darcy is an English last name that means “from Arcy.” Arcy is a town in France, and the name was likely given to someone who came from there. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Darlington
Darlington is an English last name that means “from the town of Deorling.” Deorling is an Old English name that means “beloved one.” The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Davenport
Davenport is an English last name that means “from the town of Deven.” Deven is an Old English name that means “the deep valley.” The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Decker
Decker is a German last name that means “roofer” or “thatcher.” It is an occupational name, which means it was given to someone who worked as a roofer or thatcher. The name is most commonly found in Germany and the United States.
Delaney
Delaney is an Irish last name that means “descendant of Dubhshláine.” Dubhshláine is an Old Irish name that means “black defiance.” The name is most commonly found in Ireland and the United States.
Dempsey
Dempsey is an Irish last name that means “proud.” It is derived from the Old Irish word “damhsa,” which means pride or haughtiness. The name is most commonly found in Ireland and the United States.
Denham
Denham is an English last name that means “from the village of the Danes.” It is a locational name, which means it is derived from the name of a place. The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Denson
Denson is an English last name that means “son of Dennis.” Dennis is a given name that means “follower of Dionysus.” The name is most commonly found in the United States.
Devine
Devine is an Irish last name that means “divine” or “of the gods.” It is derived from the Old Irish word “déibhín,” which means divine or sacred. The name is most commonly found in Ireland and the United States.
Dey
Dey is a Bengali last name that means “village headman.” It is an occupational name, which means it was given to someone who was a village headman. The name is most commonly found in India.
Dillard
Dillard is an English last name that means “from the high pasture.” It is derived from the Old English words
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some famous last names that start with D?
- Davis
- Douglas
- Daniels
- Drake
- Dean
- Davenport
- Donovan
- Duke
- Duvall
- Dickinson
What are some unique last names that start with D?
- Dabbs
- Daffin
- Dagenais
- Daggett
- Dain
- Dake
- Dalbec
- Daleiden
- Dallaire
- Dally
What are some creative last names that start with D?
- Dandelion
- Dapple
- Daring
- Dashwood
- Dazzle
- Dearheart
- Debonair
- Delight
- Demure
- Destiny
What are some boy last names that start with D?
- Dalton
- Davidson
- Dawson
- Dean
- Delgado
- Diaz
- Dixon
- Donovan
- Douglas
- Drake
What are some girl last names that start with D?
- Dalton
- Daniels
- Davidson
- Day
- Dean
- Delaney
- Delgado
- Diaz
- Dixon
- Donovan
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