Surname Dewey - Meaning and Origin
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Rediscovering the Dewey Legacy: An iGENEA DNA Analysis Chronicle
Drawing from the incredible DNA analysis journey with iGENEA, I discovered the historical and geographical roots of my family name, Dewey. The comprehensive analysis revealed connections to the English counties of Devon and Norfolk, genuinely expanding my understanding of my heritage and instilling immense pride in my lineage.
S. Dewey
read moreDewey: What does the surname Dewey mean?
The origin of the last name Dewey is unknown. However, some sources suggest that it is derived from an old English word "doh", meaning "gentle". The name could also originate from the Welsh word "dai", meaning "beloved" or "dear".
In some cases, Dewey is a contraction of the French surname Des Voeux, meaning "of the vows". Some sources link the name to the phrase "due groom", meaning " a good man."
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Dewey was a very common surnamemainly found in England and America, and later in Canada. The highest concentration of this name in the United States is in Florida.
Today, Dewey is a popular last name and there are several famous people who carry the name. Some of these include Admiral George Dewey, the only American naval hero of the Spanish-American War, President of the United States Thomas Dewey, and fashion designer Dee-Dee Dewey.
In conclusion, the last name Dewey is of unclear origin, although possible etymologies exist. It was popular in the 20th century but gained new popularity due to famous individuals who carry the name, such as Admiral George Dewey and President Thomas Dewey.
Order DNA origin analysisDewey: Where does the name Dewey come from?
The last name Dewey is most commonly found in the United States, and it is primarily concentrated in the northeastern region of the country. In fact, the New England states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire have the highest concentrations of the last name Dewey. This could indicate that the surname has its earliest origins in these states.
Outside the U.S. the last name Dewey is most often found in Canada. It is also scattered throughout other parts of the world, including parts of Europe, South America, and Australia.
The last name Dewey is derived from the Old French word "dues" which means "of the water" or "by the water". This could indicate that the surname originated as a locational name of someone who lived near water. Alternatively, it could refer to someone who worked with water as a source of income.
In terms of modern-day Deweys, many still live in New England, as well as other parts of the U.S. There are also Deweys scattered around the world, and they have found their way into many different professions. Some notable Deweys include the late American politician Thomas E. Dewey, the musician William James Dewey, and the sculptor Edward Clark Dewey.
Variations of the surname Dewey
The surname Dewey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old French word ‘dewe,’ meaning ‘of the dew.’ It is a toponymic name, meaning that it was given to those individuals who came from a certain place. The surname can be found in various variations, spellings, and derivatives.
Variants of the surname Dewey include Dewe, Dewey, Dewes, Dews, Dewbe, Dewais, devine, Devee, Devey, Deveye, Dewber, Deber.
Derivatives of the surname Dewey stem from the French language of Old French and include Devine, Daigneault, Devoy, DeVoye, Devois, Devisse, and Devo, Deves, Devesse, and Dauvrie.
Spelling variations of Dewey include Dew, Dewe, Dewes, Dee, Dees, Deece, Deez, Dame, dew, Dewey, Dewy, Deweis, Dewye, Dewall, Dewi, Dewise, and documents of the name in the late 14th century suggest the alternative spelling Dewin.
Other variations of the surname may have derived from the Dutch language, such as DeWeerdt, DeWerdt, DeWeerd, DeWerd, DeWert, DeWirt, Dewield, Dewet, and Dewitt.
The surname Dewey has many variations stemming from its origins in Anglo-Saxon, Old French, and Dutch language. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it was given to those individuals who came from a certain place. Variations, derivatives, and spellings of the name have evolved over time, resulting in a variety of surnames including Devine, Daigneault, Devoy, DeWeerdt, DeWerdt, DeWeerd, DeWerd, DeWert, DeWirt, Dewield, Dewet, and Dewitt.
Famous people with the name Dewey
- Thomas E. Dewey: the 44th Governor of New York (1943-1954) and the Republican nominee for President in 1944 and 1948.
- Talcott Dewey: a former US Senator from Vermont (1877-1881).
- Charles Chester Dewey: a former US Congressman from Michigan (1913-1919).
- Melvil Dewey: an American librarian and educator, the creator of the Dewey Decimal Classification, and the founder of the American Library Association (1851-1931).
- George Dewey: an America naval officer who served in the Spanish-American War (1837-1917).
- John Dewey: an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer (1859-1952).
- Adelbert Dewey: a American lawyer and jurist (1867-1948).
- Scott Dewey: a computer scientist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems (1953-2014).
- Philo T. Dewey: a Union Army officer in the American Civil War (1826-1909).
- Hillary Dewey: an English children’s fiction author (1916-1994).