Surname Dearing - Meaning and Origin

Dearing: What does the surname Dearing mean?

The surname Dearing is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Deorling", which means "dear or cherished one". It is a diminutive form of "Deora", which directly translates to "beloved". Over time, the name evolved, passing through versions like Derling and Dierling before becoming Dearing. The suffix 'ing' denotes 'descendant of'. Therefore, Dearing implies 'descendant of the dear or beloved one'. It is also believed that the surname could have originated from nicknames that indicated personal characteristics or behaviors, suggesting that people with this name were cherished or beloved. Like many surnames, it has different variations and spellings such as Deering, Dearring, and Dering. While it is most commonly found in England, due to emigration over centuries, the name has spread to various parts of the world, including North America and Australia. It remains a relatively rare surname today.

Dearing: Where does the name Dearing come from?

The surname Dearing is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the personal name Dēorwine, which is composed of the elements "deor," meaning tender or beloved, and "wine," meaning friend. Hence, Dearing could potentially mean "Dear Friend." The surname may also have originated as a nickname for someone who acted in a dearly, beloved manner.

It initially appeared in old English records in various forms such as Derewyn, Deorwynn, or Dæring. Over time, these names evolved into their modern forms such as Dearing, Deering or Dearin.

Today, the surname Dearing is most commonly found in the United States, followed by England and Canada. Within the U.S., it is most prevalent in the southern states, particularly Kentucky. In England, the name is most common in the eastern region. Even though the surname has spread worldwide over the centuries, it is still considered fairly rare outside of these areas.

Variations of the surname Dearing

The surname Dearing has various alternate spellings and variants. The origin of the surname can be traced back to Britain, specifically in England and Scotland.

Some of the variants and spellings include Deering, Deeringe, Dereing, Dehring, Derling, Derring, and Dearinge. Moreover, there can be derivatives and variations depending on the region or country of use.

For instance, in Germany, it may appear as Döring or Doering. In Denmark, during its history, some people adopted the surname Dyring.

Moreover, it's crucial to note that over time, many names were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers because literacy was rare and there was no established standard during medieval times.

Furthermore, compound surnames, i.e., two last names joined by a hyphen, may exist based on maternal and paternal inherited surnames. For instance, a common practice in Spanish-speaking countries could create a surname such as Dearing-Rodriguez or Deering-Gomez, and so forth.

Surname origin can vastly influence its spelling and variants as pronunciation, regional dialects and language influence and spelling reform also play a significant role in the variation of a surname.

Famous people with the name Dearing

• Joanna Dearing: British actress and television presenter.
• Red Dearing: American actor best known for his roles in the films "The High Notion" and "Mississipi Come and Go".
• Samantha Dearing: Canadian actress who starred in the television series "Sea Patrol" and "Kingdom Hospital".
• Colin Dearing: English radio presenter and podcast host.
• Jay Dearing: American country singer and songwriter whose albums include "Positively Country" and "A Jamaica Serenade".
• Pat Dearing: American television producer and director behind popular series like "I Love Lucy".
• Katherine Dearing: American singer and songwriter with two albums, "Dress & Dreams" and "Lyricalcuriosity".
• Troy Dearing: Canadian hockey player who played in the NHL from 1994 to 1997.
• Sarah Dearing: British actress featured in the TV series "Doctors".
• Andrea Dearing: Australian musician and singer-songwriter with two albums, "Alchemy" and "Annihilator".

Other surnames

Dearie