Surname Damp - Meaning and Origin

Damp: What does the surname Damp mean?

Damp is a surname, derived from a Middle English word, “dampen”, which means to dew or dimmish, typically with water. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, as many surnames do, and its earliest known occurrence is in the 12th century.

It is likely the name was used to denote someone living in or near a damp or wet area, such as a marsh or bog, someone who gathered wet moss and turf, for use in construction and heating, or simply someone of an overall “wet” nature.

In Scotland, the name Damp may be a variation on the ancient Gaelic dwelling name, “MacAonghais” which translates to “son of Aonghas”, where “Aonghas” is translated to “handsome”. This type of surname origin would likely refer to someone of handsome or passionate appearance.

The last name Damp is fairly uncommon in many parts of the world, though it can be found in Germany, in the form “Danle”, and in various other countries.

In the United States, there are over 3,000 people with this name, with the great majority being of German or British descent. References to this name can be found in records dating back to the early days of America’s history, such as in one of Benjamin Franklin’s early writings.

Although its exact origins are unknown and may never be determined, the last name Damp has provided a bit of mystery and intrigue to the lives of those who share it.

Damp: Where does the name Damp come from?

The last name Damp is most commonly found in Germany today, where it is spelled "Dampt." The name is quite infrequent, ranking only in the 1700s of most common surnames in the country. It is thought to have originated as a professional last name, meaning someone who worked with water or served as a miller. Early records identify the Damps as being among the earliest documented inhabitants of Germany, mainly in the southwestern regions of Saxony and Thuringia. The name is also reported in countries like Slovakia and the Czech Republic, most likely as a result of migrations from Germany. Interestingly, there are some reports of the name being found in parts of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which would likely be the result of migrations from Germany by different branches of the family. While it is not especially common in America today, the Damp name remains fairly common throughout Germany and its surrounding countries.

Variations of the surname Damp

The surname Damp is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can have several spelling variations and related surnames. Variants include Dampney, Dampron, Damper, Dampeer, Dampp, and Dampe.

The surname Damp may be derived from the Olde English pre 7th century word, damp, meaning mud, slime, ooze or wet ground. The surname may have been an occupational name for someone who lived near wet ground or a nickname for someone who was considered damp and gloomy in disposition.

The spelling variations of the surname Damp are due to the fact that before the advent of dictionaries and the conventions of spelling in English, English spelling was highly subjective.

The name Dampney may be derived from the old English ‘damp’ plus the Olde French suffix ‘-ney’, denoting a place where damp mud was found. The surname Dampron may be derived from the French prefix ‘de,’ denoting of a place, plus the suffix pron, denoting a marsh or bog. The surname Damper may be from the Olde English pre 7th century term dampian meaning to deceive. The surname Dampeer is derived from the Dutch word ‘damp’ meaning mud or wet ground. The surname Dampp may be derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century term damp, meaning wet ground or mud. The surname Dampe is derived from the Old Frisian word ‘damp’ meaning wet ground.

In conclusion, the surname Damp may have several variants and most likely had its origiin from the term damp, meaning mud, slime, ooze or wet ground. Although the origins of the surname Damp are uncertain, its various variants likely derived from its various meanings.

Famous people with the name Damp

• Dorie Damp: US actress
• Doug Damp: English footballer
• Michelle Damp: US dancer
• Nelson Damp: US outdoorsman
• Stefan Damp: German mixed-martial arts fighter
• Scott Damp: US singer
• Stelio Damp: Greek sculptor
• Johnny Damp: American political activist
• Joseph Damp: US painter
• Rachel Damp: Swiss photographer

Other surnames

DamDambachDambacherDambergDambergerDamböckDamboldDamboldtDamboltDambrauskasDambrovskiDambrowskeDambrowskiDambrowskyDamckeDameDämelDamelangDamelinDamenDamerDamerauDamerellDämeringDameronDamerowDamert