Surname Dewer - Meaning and Origin
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Dewer: What does the surname Dewer mean?
The last name Dewer is of Scottish origin and it's an occupational surname derived from the term 'deor', which means a 'deer' in Old English. Hence, Dewer was likely used to denote individuals who either hunted deer or who worked in deer parks. Early records show its use primarily in regions of Scotland though variations of the surname can be found across the United Kingdom and later in the United States and other countries due to migration. As with most surnames, the meaning can also slightly differ based on regional dialects and historical usage. Since surnames were often given based on occupations, physical attributes, or geographical locations, the meaning of Dewer might also relate to these factors in specific contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisDewer: Where does the name Dewer come from?
The surname Dewer is of Scottish origin. The name is derived from a profession or occupational name, similar to many surnames in the Western world. It was first found in Perthshire, a historic county in the central Scotland. The term 'Dewer' was initially used to denote an official in Scotland who had the responsibility of collecting duties and taxes. It may also come from the Gaelic/Celtic term 'dhubhghair', which means 'dark or black stranger,' suggesting a link to Scandinavian settlers in early Scotland.
Currently, the prevalence of Dewer as a surname is relatively rare globally. The surname Dewer is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in New York, followed by Florida and California, as per the records available. In the United Kingdom, the surname is predominantly found in Scotland, consistent with its origin. However, it is relatively uncommon even in these regions. Due to the migratory patterns, Dewer surnames might also be found in Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada.
Variations of the surname Dewer
The surname Dewer has several variations and alternative spellings which may have originated due to regional dialects and differences in phonetics of various languages. Some of these include Dewar, Duwer, Dever, Dure, Dower, Duar, Dewyer and Duewer.
Several surnames have evolved from Dewer potentially share the same origin, or have similar roots, such as Duerr, Duhig, Duera, Devere and Devair.
The Dewer surname is believed to have originated from Scotland, specifically from the ancient Scottish Deoir or Deòir family, which has also resulted in the similar sounding Deòir or Deoir siblings.
The surname Dewer might also be derived from the Old French term "dever," meaning duty or task, which was often assigned to a local official or head of the village, thereby creating the surnames Devere or Dever.
Variations and alternative spellings of this surname, which all still generally refer to the same family lineage, are due to the migration of individuals over time and the phonetic transcription of the name into different languages and scripts.
Famous people with the name Dewer
- Layne Staley (1967-2002): An American musician and singer-songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains.
- Mike de Werd (1918-2002): An Australian World War II pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Royal Australian Air Force.
- William W. deWeer (1930-2014): An American political scientist and educator. He was a professor of political science and chair of the department at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.
- Elodie de Werd (born 1994): A Dutch model and winner of Holland's Next Top Model in 2014.
- Yannick deWever (born 1984): A Belgian football executive and current CEO of Club Brugge.
- Harry deWerth (1901–1979): An Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
- Jorndt deWerdt (born 1973): A Dutch former professional road bicycle racer.
- John de Werd (born 1965): An Australian film and television actor, best known for his roles in the films This Thing of Ours (2001) and Only the Brave (2005).
- Jitter deWers (born 1949): A Dutch jazz trombonist and composer.
- Bill deWert (1932–2011): An American college football coach and sportscaster. He was the head coach for the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse for 33 years and broadcast college football games for over 30 years.