Surname Dalrymple - Meaning and Origin
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Dalrymple: What does the surname Dalrymple mean?
The last name Dalrymple is a Scottish surname, believed to have originated from the town of Middlebie near Dumfries in Scotland. Deriving from the Gaelic phrase ‘Deil rumplach’ - meaning 'rumbling apart' - the name was likely first given to a person who by their actions or words ‘caused something to crumble to pieces.’
The earliest recorded spellings of the name to be found in official documents dates from the turn of the 14th Century, when a William de Rymple was witness to an agreement between two Lords near the village of Kirtle in Scotland.
The 1881 Great Britain census shows around 800 instances of the Dalrymple surname living in England; with over 1,000 in Scotland. The Highland clearances however, led to large numbers of people bearing the name to eventually immigrate to other countries, particularly Canada.
Other places that are synonymous with the Dalrymple surname include the town of Dalrymple in Scotland; the namesake of which was likely taken from a local family bearing the name.
The name continues to be associated with successful men and women in a number of high-profile fields, including politics, medicine, engineering and education. Its association with Scotland and its roots in the Gaelic language and culture live on, being borne by proud Scots even today.
Order DNA origin analysisDalrymple: Where does the name Dalrymple come from?
The last name Dalrymple is a habitational name found mainly in Scotland and Northern Ireland today. It came from the village of Burnhouse near Eaglesham, which used to be known as Dalrymple. The name is also present in Scotland’s former colonies, like America, Australia, and Canada, and countries like India and New Zealand.
In Scotland, the name Dalrymple is mainly confined to the south and southwest. Glasgow and Ayrshire have the highest number of carriers of the name. In England, Lancashire and Yorkshire have the highest concentration of the name. It is also found in small numbers in other parts of the United Kingdom, like Ireland and Wales.
The last name Dalrymple is also fairly common in the United States, where it can be found in most states. There are large numbers of the name in the Midwest and South, but the highest concentration is in California. It is also present in small numbers in other countries like Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
The surname is quite popular in these countries and has been adopted by some prominent people. Prominent individuals who bear the name include businessman and philanthropist William Dalrymple and activist and director Steve Dalrymple.
Variations of the surname Dalrymple
The surname Dalrymple has a few different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. One variant is Dalrimple, which is a spelling variation of the original spelling of Dalrymple. It can also be spelled as Delrimple, Delrymple and Dulrimple. Another spelling variation is Daelrymple, while a third variant of the name is Dalrympley.
In some cases, alternative spellings of Dalrymple are used interchangeably, while in other instances, it is common for the spelling to alter based on geography. For instance, the variant Dalrymple can be found more often in Scotland, while the spelling Delrimple is more common in England.
The surname Dalrymple is also related to other Scottish names, such as Dalryple, Dalrymple-Hay, or Dalrymple-Shaw, which can all be traced to the same roots. Another branch of the Dalrymple family tree are the names Dalrymple-Smith and Dalrymple-White, which were common among members of the Dalrymple family living in Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries.
In addition to the variations of the original Dalrymple name, there are also some surnames that developed during the Great Migration, such as Dalrymple-Brown, Dalrymple-Kirkwood, Dalrymple-Lee, and Dalrymple-Parker. These names are associated with branches of the Dalrymple family that emigrated to the United States, and Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Overall, there are a wide variety of spellings, variants, and surnames that developed from the original Dalrymple surname. Each of these names can add a unique layer of depth to any family tree.
Famous people with the name Dalrymple
- Alex Dalrymple, American actor
- Dave Dalrymple, American voice actor
- David Dalrymple, Scottish archaeologist
- David S. Dalrymple, American attorney
- Fr. James Dalrymple, Scottish Catholic priest
- James Dalrymple (1st Viscount of Stair), Scottish lawyer and diplomat
- James Dalrymple, Earl of Stair, Scottish soldier and politician
- John Dalrymple, British soldier
- Peter Dalrymple, South African Antarctic explorer
- Thomas Dalrymple, Scottish physician
- William Dalrymple, Scottish historian and writer
- William J. Dalrymple, American diplomat