Surname Debes - Meaning and Origin
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Debes: What does the surname Debes mean?
The surname Debes is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the personal name Debbich, which is a variant of Theobald, meaning ‘people’s ruler’ or ‘people’s strength’. Through the centuries, the surname has been adopted in various countries. In France, Debez is a variation. In Spain, it has emerged as Debes.
Debes is usually an individual surname, although sometimes it can refer to a line of people, such as a family or a business. The Debes name has long been associated with wealth, as the wealthy often bore the name. Many wealthy merchants in the 19th century Germany were Debes. In addition, a wealth of historic records suggest that the Debes name has been found in a variety of locations and societies throughout Germanic history.
Throughout the years, the Debes name has evolved from Theobald to Debes and has been passed down through generations as a reminder of ancestry. It is considered a prestigious name, given to people who were highly respected and had achieved success in their lives. Today the Debes name is an admired and well-known surname in several countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Italy.
Order DNA origin analysisDebes: Where does the name Debes come from?
The last name Debes is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands. It's believed to have originated from the Old German name Debe, which means "deer". The spelling of the name can vary slightly, as some families have chosen to spell it Deibes or Deibez.
The surname is common today primarily within these two countries, as well as in other parts of Europe and North America. It's quite popular in Germany, with the highest concentrations found in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. In the Netherlands, the last name is most common in East and South Holland, as well as Gelderland and Flevoland.
The name has also spread to South Africa and Argentina, where German immigrants introduced it. Many English families with the last name Debes have German or Dutch ancestry, as it was probably anglicized when they settled in the United Kingdom.
Debes is also found in the United States, mainly in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and California. It could have been introduced in the late 19th century through German and Dutch immigration, as well as by the British settlers.
Overall, the last name Debes is quite scattered across many locates, but it is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Debes
The surname Debes has a few variants, spellings, and associated surnames.
The primary spelling of Debes is the same throughout all of Germany, which is Debes. Variants of this name include: Deves, Debez, Devon, Debuz, Debice, Deves, Deebes and Debeys.
The most common associated surnames are Deity, Debey, Debby, Debney and Debeny. These surnames originate not from the Debes spelling, but rather from the French Debetz, meaning ‘of God’. Debetz is a derivative of the Latin deite, from the Greek word theotes, which translates to ‘God’. Those who adopted the surname Debetz eventually changed the spelling to Debney or Debeny.
The German spelling of Debes is known to have related to other German surnames, including Deez, Dittes, Doece and Deppes. These related surnames are thought to derive from the Middle High German words, ‘dep’ (long) and ‘doce’ (wide).
The Debes surname, along with its variants, spellings and associated surnames, has its roots in Germany and is believed to originate mostly from the Germanic language. Over time, this primary spelling of Debes has become more widespread throughout Europe, and even globally, as a result of increased immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Debes
- Margaret Delia Debes: a Danish athlete who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, in the discus throw, making it to the semi-finals.
- Yolanda Debes de Schumann: a Spanish researcher in the psychology of religion.
- Mario Debes: a Paraguayan player of the Match race, who competes in international competitions since 1987.
- Ferdinand Debes: a prominent Danish chemist and geologist in the 19th century.
- Bob Debes: a Danish entrepreneur and businessman; the current CEO of the Hansa Group.
- Ernst August Debes: a German writer from Thuringia.
- Conrado Debes Otazu: a Spanish Catholic priest. Monarchist, scholar and church leader.
- Jacob Wilhelm Debes: a German pastor and hymnwriter.
- Marianne Debes: a Danish sculptor and teacher.
- Donna Debes: an American sculptor residing in Houston, Texas.