Surname Dames - Meaning and Origin
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Dames: What does the surname Dames mean?
The last name Dames is of German origin and refers to a person who was born from or lived near a dam. The name could have been given for people living near a body of water that was dammed up in order to protect it from flooding or to manage water resources, such as a millpond, or a man-made reservoir.
The suffix of the name can also be derived from the Middle High German dame, which means “lady” and/or “mistress” and was often used to describe female landowners or noblewomen. The name may have first been given as a title of respect for a female landowner or the wife of a knight.
The name has also been found and used in different parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Germany and Denmark.
It is thought to be related to the more common German name Damm, which is most widely used in northwest Germany. This is a topographical name for someone who lived near a body of water, lake, pond, pool or large river. This name is derived from the German cognate of the English dam, which refers to a piece of masonry used to hold back water.
Today, the surname Dames is still found and used in multiple countries including the United States, Canada, France, The United Kingdom and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisDames: Where does the name Dames come from?
The last name Dames is most common in the Netherlands today, where it has been in existence since medieval times. In 2020, it was one of the top 500 surnames used in the Netherlands, with the first mention of the last name occurring in 1250. The name is believed to have originated from the Dutch words "Damme" or "Dam" which mean dam. This could suggest that the name was given to someone who either lived or worked near a waterway dam.
Outside of the Netherlands, the last name Dames is still in use today in various parts of Europe, although it is not as common as it is in the Netherlands. Germany and France have the highest concentrations of Dames, followed by Belgium, England, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark.
In other locations around the world, the name is more localized in its usage. In the United States, for example, the surname is mainly found in Louisiana, while in Canada, it is comparatively more common in Quebec, where it is thought to have originally been brought by French settlers who immigrated to the region in the 17th century.
In sum, the name Dames is most common today in the Netherlands. Though it is still present in other countries, it is generally more localized in its usage.
Variations of the surname Dames
The surname Dames has several variants as well as spellings and/or surnames of similar origins.
The most common variant of this surname is Damas, with spelling variations such as Demas, Damase, Damaze, Damez, Demaze, De Mas, De Maz, De Masse, and DaMas.
Another variant of the surname Dames is Danas, with spelling variations such as Donas, Donaz, Dohaz, Denas, Denaz, and Donaes.
The surname Damas is of French origin, and it derived originally from the Latin name Damianus, which means ‘to tame’ or ‘to subdue.’ The variants Donas and Danas are of Spanish origin, and they are derived from the given name Don, which means ‘lord’ or ‘sir.’
All of these variants and surnames of similar origin are believed to be related in some way as they all share an ultimate origin from the Latin personal name Damianus.
In addition, the surname Dames has an alternate spelling or origin of “Dammes,” which is a version of the German surname “Damme.” This surname is likely derived from the German words “damm” or “dammer,” which translates as a low-lying meadow.
The surname Dames is also occasionally found with spelling variations such as Damms, Damm, and Dam. Furthermore, the Dutch version of this surname is Damen, which is derived from “Dames,” and is also found with spelling variations such as Damens, Daman, Damanen, Doman, and Doeman.
Famous people with the name Dames
- Maite Dames: Spanish actress, model and singer
- Joan Davis: American comedic actress
- Tony Dames: former NBA player
- Dexter Dames: former NFL player
- Kevin DeMes: French professional tennis player
- John Dames: former MLB player
- Harry Dames: American oil tycoon
- Ryan Dames: American stuntman and actor
- Gordon Dames: British Olympic sprinter
- John L. Dames: former Speaker of the House of Ohio
- Rami Dames: award-winning Arab-American singer-songwriter
- Paul Dames: British novelist
- Arwin Dames: Dutch soccer player
- Alistair Dames: Australian professional dancer
- Florence Dames: American silent-era film actress