Surname Damen - Meaning and Origin
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Damen: What does the surname Damen mean?
The last name Damen is of Dutch origin, and is derived from the Middle Dutch word “dame,” which means “lady.” The meaning of the name can be interpreted in several ways, with the most common interpretations referencing a “noble lady” or a “respected lady.” In the Low German dialect, the meaning of Damen becomes even more literal, where it means “old lady.”
Damen is a popular last name not only in Holland, but also in German-speaking countries, clayistan, and its colonies, including Suriname and Indonesia. The name likely arrived in this part of the world with early Dutch traders and colonizers.
Today, Damen is most popular in the Netherlands, where it ranks as the 73rd most common surname. In the United States, it ranks as the 321st most common last name. In other countries, it is also prevalent, including Belgium, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.
Regardless of its origin, the name Damen is still seen as a marker of respect and honor. Those with the last name may feel a sense of pride in the notion of a “noble lady” or “respected lady.” Ultimately, the meaning of the name is an individual’s choice, and one that speaks to their own personal interpretation of the word damen.
Order DNA origin analysisDamen: Where does the name Damen come from?
Damen is a common surname in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Northern France, Germany, United States, and Canada. It generally originates from a West-Germanic personal name meaning “man”, as “damm” was an archaic word for “man” in Dutch and German.
In the Netherlands, Damen is among the 25 most common last names, and it is most common in the province of Utrecht. Damen descendants can be found throughout the northern and central regions of the country, as well as in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Haarlem.
In Belgium, Damen is particularly common in the Flemish region, particularly in East Flanders and West Flanders. In Wallonia, smaller numbers of Damen descendants can be found in Hainaut, Liège, and Brussels.
In Luxembourg, Damen is among the 35 most common surnames, although it is more common in the Greater Region.
In the United States, Damen is among the 800 most common last names. It is especially popular in the Midwest, where it is among the 200 most common names in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa. It is also common in both the East and West coasts, although it is more common in the East.
Finally, in Canada, Damen is among the 2000 most common last names, and is particularly popular in Ontario and British Columbia.
Variations of the surname Damen
The surname Damen is an old Dutch patronymic surname, derived from the given name Damen, which is an old Dutch German personal name derived from the Latin name Damianus meaning "taming, subduing". This surname is found in records from as early as the fourteen century in the Netherlands. Variants of the surname Damen include Demen, Damn, Damme, Dam, Dammas, Damnay, Damnante, Demann, and Demenec. The patronymic form of the name, derived from the given name of a father or ancestor, is Damen, Damens, de Damen, de Damens, Damman, Dammans, de Damman, and de Dammans.
Similar spellings of the surname Damen are Damon, Dhannon, Dharmon and Darmon, as well as fieminized variations such as Damens, Demense, and Demennes. Surnames with a different origin, but similar spelling are Daymen, Decman and Decmen.
The Dutch spelling of Damen is mainly found in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and surrounding areas, and is also fairly common in Scandinavia. In other countries the surname is mostly found in anglicized spellings such as Damon, Dhannon, and Darmon. This surname is also found to be highly concentrated in Ireland and the United Kingdom, due to migration, as the name changed when emigrating to these countries.
Famous people with the name Damen
- Margriet van der Linden: Former Minister for the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands.
- Oussama Damen: Moroccan football player and one-time winner of the Netherlands Football Talent of the Year.
- Daan Damen: Dutch TV presenter and producer for KRO-NCRV
- Marjolein Damen: Dutch actress who has appeared in movies such as "Zes dagen in September" and "A Bridge too Far".
- Gideon Damen: Dutch sculptor and artist of the 20th century.
- Lucas Damen- Dutch actor who has appeared in movies such as "Alles is Liefde" and "Dokter Tinus".
- Pieter Damen: Dutch stage and film actor, known for his role in the movie "Vreemd Zijn de Regels".
- Hans Damen: Dutch actor and comedian best known for his work on Dutch television series "De Schakel".
- Nico Damen: Dutch fashion designer of menswear.
- Willem Damen: Dutch painter and sculptor known for his detailed landscape paintings and public sculptures.