Surname Deere - Meaning and Origin
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Deere: What does the surname Deere mean?
The last name Deere is of French origin and comes from the French word “d’eau” meaning “water” or “stream”, a homage to a person who lived near a river. Therefore, it is likely that this name was originally given to French inhabitants who lived by a large water body, such as a lake or a river.
It is often associated with the individual John Deere, the inventor of the modern steel plow, which revolutionized farming and made its way to the United States through German immigrants in the mid-19th century. To this day, John Deere is a world-renowned company that produces agricultural machinery for farmers worldwide, easily recognizable by the iconic bright green and yellow paint shade on its tractors and mowers. The John Deere brand is so popular that it has become a symbol for American farmers.
The Deere surname continues to be used as a surname well beyond the scope of farming. It is a lasting reminder of a person or a family who made a great contribution to modern-day farming, allowing for an abundance of resources for the world. With such a deep and meaningful lineage, the Deere will continue to inspire those with the surname and people who have come in contact with the Deere logo.
Order DNA origin analysisDeere: Where does the name Deere come from?
Deere is a surname of English and Dutch origin. It is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, notably in Canada, the United States, England, and Australia. In the US, the surname is most commonly found in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa - states in which the John Deere Company originated in 1837.
The John Deere Company was founded by John Deere, an engineer and inventor born in Rutland, Vermont. The company began as a five-person blacksmith workshop, but innovated over the centuries to become the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment.
Today, the surname Deere remains quite popular in the US, England, Canada, and Australia. According to MyHeritage.com, the surname currently ranks in the top 3,000 surnames in the United States. The US Census Bureau lists over 12,000 individuals with the surname Deere (as of 2021) in the US.
Deere is also a popular surname in England, ranking in the top 4,000 surnames. The last name is particularly common in the East Midlands counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire.
In Canada, the surname is quite common, ranking in the top 1,500 surnames.
In Australia, the surname is most popular in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland - the most populous states of the country. According to the MyHeritage Surname Database, Deere ranks in the top 4,000 surnames in Australia.
Variations of the surname Deere
The surname Deere is derived from the Old French word “deer,” which means “wild animal.” In Anglo-Saxon England, a person with this name would be one associated with the hunting or capturing of deer. The Deere family name is found all over Europe, including Great Britain, Spain, France, Ireland and Germany. In the United States, the Deere family history traces back to the arrival of the first family members in the early 17th century.
The most common variants and spellings of the Deere surname include Deer, Deear, Deerin, Dere, Deere, Derens, Derin, and Dirre. In some areas, the name may also be spelled Deere, Deri, Deree, Drying, Drawing, and Deur.
The surname Deere can also appear in different forms such as Deeren, Deers, Deeter, Deiters, Dearre, Dearre, and Deering. Other versions include Dearr, Deaar, Dearin, Deers, Deersma, Deira, Derian, Deringer, Deering, and Derin.
Surnames of the same origin include the Dutch surname Deering, the English Derin, the French Derens, the German Dirre, and the Irish Dearre.
Overall, the Deere surname has many variants and spellings, as well as a few other surnames of the same origin, which demonstrate the range of diversity and complexity of the Deere surname.
Famous people with the name Deere
- John Deere: John Deere was an American Blacksmith and inventor who founded the John Deere company in 1837. He is credited with many revolutionary developments in agricultural engineering and is considered one of the most successful and influential businessmen in the early 20th century.
- Bob Deere: Bob Deere was the great-great-grandson of John Deere. He was the Chief Executive Officer of John Deere from 2000 until his retirement in 2006.
- Teresa Deere: Teresa Deere is the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere and the first female CEO of the John Deere company. She held the position from 2006 to 2014.
- Jacquie Deere: Jacquie Deere is the granddaughter of Bob Deere. She was elected a John Deere board member in 2018.
- Ian Deere: Ian Deere is a graduate of Harvard Business School and was appointed the President and CEO of John Deere in 2014.
- Natalee Deere-Davila: Natalee Deere-Davila is the current Chief Brand Officer of John Deere since 2017.
- Chad Deere: Chad Deere is an American politician and member of the Utah State House of Representatives.
- Elizabeth Deere: Elizabeth is a professional ballet dancer and a student at Indiana University.
- Matthew Deere: Matthew Deere is a Christian hip-hop producer and recording artist.