Surname Dinnis - Meaning and Origin
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Dinnis: What does the surname Dinnis mean?
The last name Dinnis is likely derived from an old English personal name Dinise that is thought to be derived from the Latin Denis, which is also the name for the French version of Dionysius, the Greek god of wine. It is possible that the Dinnis family was named after this god, or that it was a popular name among members of the family.
When used as a surname, Dinnis generally denotes that the family hails from Devon, England. This is because a spelling variation of the name, Dinnys, was most common in this area during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was also quite common in counties located near Devon, including Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall.
Today, Dinnis is primarily used as a surname in England and Ireland, but its spread has been noted globally, especially in the United States. There have also been notable figures who have shared the name, including Stephen Dinnis, an English shoemaker and politician in the early 19th century. Additionally, Andy Dinnis was a former professional cricket player who represented the Northern Territory in 1994.
At its root, the name Dinnis is traditionally associated with Dionysus, and can be understood as an homage to this god of wine. Consequently, it is seen as a name that denotes prosperity, conviviality, and perhaps a bit of good luck.
Order DNA origin analysisDinnis: Where does the name Dinnis come from?
The surname Dinnis is not common today and is not found on the current list of top 1000 surnames in the United States. However, it is possible that Dinnis may still be found in some regions of the United States. It is believed to have originated in England and to likely have French origins. As such, it could still be found in these countries.
A search on ancestry.com reveals that Dinnis is a rare name and the most recent records show that it was most prevalent in the United States in the 1920s. It has since all but disappeared, except in a few places. The areas where Dinnis was recorded include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. Records from 1940 to the present day are sparse.
Dinnis is also found around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite its rarity, Dinnis is not necessarily extinct and could still be found in places where it is known to have historically been in use.
Variations of the surname Dinnis
The surname Dinnis is thought to be of British and Irish origin. Spellings for this surname include Dinneen, Dinnigan, Dinney, Denneen, Denney, Denning, and Dunne. Variants of the surname likely derived from other languages or regions, include Dannis, Dinic, Denico, and Dinnic.
The origin of the surname Dinnis is uncertain. It is unclear whether the name derives from being a family of merchants and traders, from a place name, or from a nickname due to the characteristics of an individual ancestor. The origin of the name may have come from Old English and the name Dƿne (meaning "hill"), or from the Old Norse personal name Dynni. It is also possible that some variants of the surname developed from the Gaelic Irish surname Ó Duinnín, meaning "descendant of Donnín".
It is possible that the surname originated in several different ways within various families and some of the variants may have changed over time and through migrations to different regions of the British Isles. Some of the earliest mention of the surname dates back to the 15th century England. Records indicate that Johan Dynes, in the county of Essex, was granted a royal license to pasture livestock. In Ireland, the surname is mostly found in the Southern counties and is likely of either Norman-English origin or from the Gaelic Irish Ó Duinnín.
In the United States, the surname is found in many states in records dating back to the 1700s. One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname is found in the records of the Boston Gazette in 1740. It is likely, however, that many Dinnis families have relocated over time to many other parts of the US, some of which still may use the variants of the surname mentioned above.
Famous people with the name Dinnis
- Alex Dinnis: British Muslim entrepreneur, digital marketing strategist,
- Jonathan Dinnis: English footballer
- Luisa Dinnis: Professional Latin and Ballroom Dancer
- Emma Dinnis: Sports journalist, BBC correspondent
- Rob Dinnis: British music producer
- Dean Dinnis: Musician, songwriter, producer in the punk and rock genres
- Mark Dinnis: Actor who starred in the BBC sitcom Terry and June
- Stephen Dinnis: Philosopher and educator
- John Dinnis: American pastor and author
- Philip Dinnis: American actor best known for his role on the western television show, The Virginian