Surname Dachs - Meaning and Origin
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Dachs: What does the surname Dachs mean?
The last name Dachs is a German name that can be translated to mean “badger”. It is believed to originate from an Old German word, dahse or dahso. This was a nickname for someone with the characteristics of a badger. Badgers are known to be strong and brave, and the name likely alluded to these qualities in the person being named.
The Dachs name is also found in other European countries and appears to have some Jewish roots, as it is a variation of the Hebrew surname Daks. Some historians theorize that the name was originally adopted to distinguish Jewish families from Christian ones during times of religious persecution, though the original meaning has been lost in time.
The Dachs name is still commonly used today and is most associated with the country of Germany. In modern times, it can be found amongst those with Germanic ancestry around the world. The name has also been used in numerous works of fiction as a both a character name and a family name, such as in the film “Die Fledermaus” and the book “The Dachs Strategy”.
In all, the last name “Dachs” is a Germanic name that likely stems from an Old German word meaning badger. It is associated with strength, bravery and possibly with Jewish roots. The name is still in use today, having spread to other countries as a result of immigration.
Order DNA origin analysisDachs: Where does the name Dachs come from?
The last name Dachs has origins in Germany, where it is still common today. It is often used in Bavaria and Lower Saxony, in addition to other parts of the country. The surname is derived from the German word "dachs," which means badger in English. The name came into use as a nickname or from toponymic origins, likely referring to a person who lived near an area with badgers.
Given its German origins, Dachs is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other areas in Central and Eastern Europe where Germanic languages were historically spoken. It is also found in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
The surname is fairly uncommon, though, making up less than 0.002% of the population in Germany. It's most concentrated in the eastern states of Saxony and Brandenburg and is rarer further west.
In other countries, the occurrence rate may differ slightly, with the largest population in the United States, where the name is estimated to make up around 25,000 people. This makes it quite common in the US in comparison to Germany, but much more rare than popular American surnames such as Smith or Jones. The name is also popular in a few other countries, including Hungary, Argentina, France, and Belgium.
Variations of the surname Dachs
The surname Dachs is a German and Yiddish surname originating from the German word for badger - dachs. It is found in countries such as Czech Republic, Austria, United States, South Africa and others. Variations of Dachs include:
• Dachshund - This spelling originated from the name of a type of dog breed in Germany, and is commonly found in the United States and Canada.
• Dach (without the 's' at the end) - This variation is widely found in the Czech Republic.
• Daks - This surname is derived from the Yiddish variation of Dachs, and is commonly found in South Africa.
• Daksman - This surname is derived from spelling the original form (Dachsman) with some changes, and is occasionally found in United States.
• Dax - This variation is derived from the shortening of the name’s original form, and it is found in Austria and Australia.
• à Dach - This spelling, with the preposition à, is a variant of the German form often found in France and Belgium.
• Dacye - This Yiddish-based variation of Dachs is found in the United States.
• Dacs - This variation is found in Hungary.
• Dacz - Another Yiddish-based variation, found in Poland.
• Dachmann - This variant is found in some parts of Germany.
• Taks - Another Yiddish-based variation, found in Lithuania and Latvia.
• Taksas - yet another Yiddish-based variant, found in Lithuania.
• Taksman - this variation is found in Lithuania.
Famous people with the name Dachs
- Kayleigh Dachs: Actress
- Jonathan Dachs: Entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Norbert Dachs: German entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Isaac Dachs: Israeli-born basketball player
- Sarah Dachs: American model and television personality
- Matthew Dachs: American entrepreneur and journalist
- Scott Dachs: American publishing executive
- Richard Dachs: German-American illustrator
- Jimmy Dachs: American stand-up comedian
- Paul Dachs: German psychologist and psychotherapist