Surname Dookes - Meaning and Origin

Dookes: What does the surname Dookes mean?

Dookes is an English surname derived from the Old English word "duce," which means "duke." Records of its usage dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Dookes is typically a locational surname, since a duke normally held land, and its bearers were likely those who lived near or gained their livelihood from land owned by a duke. Additionally, the surname could have been taken on by a former retainer of the duke or servant, or perhaps even a courtier or a nobleman. The name likely originated in the Northern counties of England, particularly in the area in and around Durham.

Over the age, the surname has been subjected to various phonetic and spelling variations, such as Ducas, Dukes, and Dokes. It is also frequently confused for similar sounding surnames, such as Dawkins, or spelled with a ‘w’ in place of the ‘k’ as in Dookes.

Today, bearers of this name are scattered around the globe, from places such as the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, and Great Britain. All in all, the surname Dookes reflects a distinguished lineage, embodying the foundational values of loyalty, identity, and perseverance.

Dookes: Where does the name Dookes come from?

The last name Dookes is mainly present in the United Kingdom. Dookes is an English surname derived from the Middle English verb "Doke", which is believed to mean "to speak". It is most common in the North of England, especially in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, as well as areas of Northern Ireland. It is also present in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada, largely due to emigrants from the UK during the 19th century.

The prevalence of Dookes today is mainly attributed to the British occupation of India, during which many Anglo-Indian soldiers served and later settled in Britain. This brought the name with them, which contributed to its spreading throughout the country.

Currently, more than 1500 people in the United Kingdom have the name Dookes. It is often found in records as either a first or last name, predominantly in the North, which suggests that the spread of the last name has been concentrated in certain geographical areas.

In the United States especially, it is quite rare, with only a few hundred people having the name. It is likely that it was brought over by British emigrants, and has not been as widely spread due to its rarity.

Overall, the name Dookes is most commonly found in the North of England, with smaller population present in the United States and Canada. Its presence is largely a result of emigration and occupation in the British Isles over the last two centuries.

Variations of the surname Dookes

Dookes is a variant of the English surname Dooks, which is derived from the old English word dokes, meaning "ducks". The spelling variations of the surname are Ducks, Dukes,Dooks, Doukes, Dookes, Dux, Dix, Dicks, Dykes, and Dyk.

In some cases, the surname is attributed to a church in Dover, whose groundskeepers were referred to as 'Dovers Dukes'. The coincidence of the similarity in spelling has caused confusion over the years. In Scotland, the surname is sometimes associated with the place name Dukesfield, where Duksfielders were called 'Dukesfield Dukes'.

The surname Dookes is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly the counties of Ayrshore and Fife. It is also occasionally found in England, in counties such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, Essex, Kent, Suffolk and Derbyshire.

The most common variants of the surname Dookes include:Ducks, Dukes, Dooks, Doukes, Dux, Dix, Dicks, Dykes, and Dyk. It is also sometimes spelled as Dooze or Doos. These spellings are most commonly found in England, especially the south east, although they also occur in Scotland, particularly Glasgow.

The surname Dookes is rare but can be found in many countries or regions with a British influence such as Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.

In general, the surname Dookes can be attributed to the old English word dokes meaning "ducks". It can be spelt in many different ways, with common variants including Ducks, Dukes, Dooks, Doukes, Dux, Dix, Dicks, Dykes, Dyk, Dooze, and Doos. The surname is mostly found in Scotland but can also be found in England and other countries or regions with British influence.

Famous people with the name Dookes

• Ryan Dookes: British actor who appeared in several movies such as The World's End, Kingsman: The Secret Service and Thor: The Dark World.
• Maureen Dookes: British singer-songwriter who has released two albums and several singles.
• Janice Dookes: BBC journalist and presenter.
• Gavin Dookes: British comedian and actor, best known for roles in Doctor Who and Merlin.
• James Dookes: Former pro basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets.
• Tom Dookes: British entrepreneur, founder of the fashion brand Reiss.
• Dan Dookes: British comedian, writer and producer, known for his stand-up shows and television work.
• Katie Dookes: British politician and Member of Parliament for a north London constituency.
• Paul Dookes: British chef and co-owner of the successful gastropub The White Hart.
• Simon Dookes: British fashion designer and founder of the luxury menswear brand By Doyle.

Other surnames

Dooke