Surname Dugger - Meaning and Origin
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Dugger: What does the surname Dugger mean?
The surname Dugger is believed to have Scottish, Irish, and English origins. It is primarily considered an occupational surname, derived from the word 'digger' - indicating a person who was involved in digging, such as a farmer or a miner. It could also be a patrynomic surname consisting of a personal name such as Douglas or Dougal, plus a suffix "er" denoting 'son of'. More rare theories suggest that it might be a derivative of 'dagger', indicative of a weapons maker or warrior. Another theory suggests it might originate from 'Doire', an Irish Gaelic term for 'wooded area'. Like many surnames, the exact origin is difficult to assert due to migration and regional variations. Over time, spelling variations emerged such as Dugard, Dougall, Douger, and Dougar. This surname gained attention largely due to the renowned American television family, the Duggars, known for their reality show “19 kids and counting”. Overall, Dugger is an inherited surname, and the meaning is derived from occupation, geography, or descent.
Order DNA origin analysisDugger: Where does the name Dugger come from?
The last name Dugger has origins in Northern Germany and is derived from the Old German personal name "Daghere," which means "day army." The name might have been initially a nickname or occupational name for someone who belonged to a day army. Over time, it evolved into a family name. Immigrants carrying this last name first arrived in the United States in the 18th century, mainly in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Today, Dugger is most commonly found in the United States. It's particularly prevalent in the Southern and Midwestern states, including Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana. The American reality-TV family "The Duggars" from the series "19 Kids and Counting" have publicized the surname quite immensely. However, despite its Germanic origins, the usage of the surname Dugger in Germany today is sparse, hence it is not a common name there.
Variations of the surname Dugger
The surname Dugger could have several variants and spellings, based somewhat on geographical location, personal preference, pronunciation, and record keeping errors. Some of these variants could include Duggar, Duger, Dugard, Dugar, Duggard, and Douger, among others.
Historically, spellings of names tended to change quite frequently, often based on phonetic interpretation. For example, the 'a' in Duggar might have been exchanged for an 'e' in Dugger in certain areas or families.
These variants could be observed in census records, immigration documents and other historical records. The Dugger name may have also included double-barrel surnames like Dugger-Smith or Duggar-Jones, where families combined names due to marriage, heritage or other reasons.
Additionally, the name Dugger pivots around the root ‘Dugg’, so it's possible that related surnames could be those starting with 'Dug', such as Dugan or Dugdale.
Certain sources suggest that the surname Dugger may originate from the Old French word 'dague', which means dagger. Hence, the name might have originally been an occupational name for a maker or wielder of daggers.
Please note that creating a comprehensive list of all potential variants or related surnames would require extensive genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Dugger
1) Jim Bob Duggar: A prominent real-estate entrepreneur, politician, and television personality, best known for being featured on the reality TV series "19 Kids and Counting". 2) Michelle Duggar: Wife of Jim Bob Duggar, known for being a reality television personality, author, and mother to their 19 children. 3) Jill Duggar Dillard: The second-oldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, she’s also a reality TV personality, featured on "19 Kids and Counting" and "Counting On". 4) Jessa Duggar Seewald: One of the Duggar daughters, Jessa also appeared on the family's reality shows. 5) Jinger Duggar Vuolo: Daughter to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, is known for her appearances on the Duggar family's reality television shows. 6) John-David Duggar: Second oldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, featured on "19 Kids and Counting". 7) Justin Samuel Duggar: The child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, he has appeared in the family's reality shows. 8) Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth: The ninth Duggar child, she is often seen on the family's reality show "Counting On". 9) Anna Duggar: The wife of the Duggar family's eldest son Josh, she regularly appears on the family's reality television shows. 10) Jedidiah and Jeremiah Duggar: The Duggar twins, they are featured in their reality television shows. All the Duggar family members are commonly known for the conservative values they demonstrate on their reality shows.