Surname Duthie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Duthie: What does the surname Duthie mean?
The last name Duthie is believed to be of Scottish origin. The earliest known record of the name is found in Aberdeenshire, where James Duthie is recorded as a witness in a charter dated 1294. It is thought the name comes from the Gaelic word ‘dhuith’ which means 'dark' or 'inky', and therefore can be translated as someone with dark hair or dark complexion.
The Duthie family has been prominent in Scotland for many centuries, playing important roles in military and legal matters. William Duthie, a 15th century laird of Rannes, is recorded in several charters, many of which still exist today. A later family member, Sir William Duthie, was a general serving in the British Army under the Duke of Marlborough between 1710 and 1714.
More recently, the Duthie family has been associated with the Royal Air Force. Sir Angus Duthie rose to become a commander in the Second World War, and served several nations as Governor, including the Falkland Islands.
Today the surname Duthie is most commonly found in Scotland and Canada, however there are a few scattered across the United States. It is an interesting and distinctive surname that still retains its original Gaelic meaning of ‘dark’ or ‘inky’.
Order DNA origin analysisDuthie: Where does the name Duthie come from?
The last name Duthie is most commonly seen today in Scotland and its related countries such as Ireland, England, and Wales. The name Duthie is likely derived from the Gaelic duthchas, which means "from the land" or "of the people," likely referencing a specific region in Scotland. It is particularly common in the northeast region of Scotland in areas such as Aberdeenshire and Banffshire.
Due to the popularity of immigration over the past two centuries, however, the last name Duthie is also seen in many other parts of the world such as Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Although not as common, it is also seen in some other European countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
The following percentages indicate the level of distribution of the name throughout these different regions: Scotland: 30%, North America: 20%, South Africa: 15%, Australia and New Zealand: 10%, Netherlands: 5%, Denmark, and Sweden: 5%, Ireland: 5%, and England and Wales: 5%.
In addition, Duthie is also a common first name in Scotland, and a few Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United States and Canada. It is a unisex name that can refer to either a boy or a girl.
Variations of the surname Duthie
The surname Duthie is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "duitheach" or "douitich" meaning "dark-haired". Variants and spellings of this surname include Duthie, Duthe, Dwtich, Dueta, Dooitich, Dooiteigh, and Dewitch.
The primary variants of this surname are Duthie, Duthe, and Dwtich due to differences in pronunciation and spelling from spoken Gaelic to written English. The suffix in Duthe followed by a letter "e" may have been used to differentiate different branches of the same family or to signify a Gaelic patronymic with the respective root.
The variants Dueta, Dooitich, Dooiteigh, and Dewitch are likely phonetic adaptations to foreign languages such English that may have been used by immigrants with the surname Duthie. What is interesting is that the prefix "doo" may have been derived from the Gaelic "duitheach", meaning dark-haired, while the suffix "iteigh" might have been derived from the Gaelic "iteagheach" meaning a friend or companion.
The surname Duthie is found primarily throughout Scotland, while some spellings of the surname have spread to England, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The surname was used to indicate an individual’s origin and often provided occupational information. Individuals bearing this surname are typically of Scottish or Gaelic descent.
Famous people with the name Duthie
- Richard Duthie: Professional darts player who was a winner of the 2001 Winmau World Masters.
- David Toshio Duthie: British barrister and judge.
- Kirsty Duthie: Professional badminton player.
- Mary Duthie: Australian amateur painter.
- Richard Duthie: British Conservative Party politician.
- Tim Duthie: Professional ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators.
- Alex Duthie: Professional chess master.
- Robbie Duthie: Professional rugby union player.
- Tyler Duthie: Professional Canadian Football League player for the BC Lions.
- Jeff Duthie: Professional golf player.
- Gordon Duthie: British physicist and Professor of Physics.
- Kenny Duthie: Professional snooker player.
- William Duthie: Scottish poet and author.
- George Duthie: Professional ice hockey player.
- Derrith Duthie: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation chief correspondent.
- Paul Duthie: Australian information technologist and software developer.
- Alexandra Duthie: Canadian sportscaster and TV presenter.
- Sean Duthie: National Hockey League referee.
- John Duthie: Executive producer and TV presenter.
- Lorna Duthie: Scottish politician and member of the Scottish National Party.