Surname Diga - Meaning and Origin
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Diga: What does the surname Diga mean?
The last name Diga is an uncommon Italian surname believed to have derived from a toponym meaning “place near a ditch.” The origin can be traced back to the Latin words “dica” and “diga” meaning “fence”, which suggests the original bearers of the surname lived near an area that was fenced off by a ditch. The earliest known use of the surname dates back to the fifteenth century when records indicate that Gervasio Diga of Vicenza was enumerated in lists of local resident’s taxable income.
The name Diga is most commonly found throughout central Italy, with the largest concentrations being found in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there was significant migration of Italian families from those two areas, leading to the spread of the surname across France, Spain, the Americas, and other parts of the world.
Today, the surname Diga is used primarily by descendants of the original Italian families with the name. They maintain a proud sense of their heritage and carry the surname as a reminder of their ancestors’ humble beginnings. Although the name may not be as common as it once was, those who bear the name Diga regard it with great pride, a powerful reminder of their family’s past and place in history.
Order DNA origin analysisDiga: Where does the name Diga come from?
The last name Diga is not very common, as it isn’t found on any of the top 1000 surnames provided by the US Census Bureau in 2019. However, it is found in a few other countries around the world.
In Italy, it is listed as a surname of Italian origin that is spread throughout the country, with the highest concentration in Sicilia and Piemonte. The Italian spelling is di Ga, which could be the origin for the pronunciation in English as "Diga."
In Spain, it is also a Spansih surname, spelled as Díez. There are very few people with this last name and the highest concentration of this name is located in northern Spain, specifically in the Catalonia region.
In Portugal, the surname is spelled as Dias. Again, it is a very rare surname in Portugal with most of the bearers located in the northern and central regions of the country.
Finally, there is some few records of this last name in the former Czechoslovakia, in Eastern Europe. This indicates that some of the bearers may have migrated to the United States from Europe, bringing this surname to the US.
Although the surname Diga is not very common either in the United States, or in the other countries discussed, the fact that is present in some countries could suggest certain migrations from one place to another that may have occured in the past and could explain why people with this surname are present around the world.
Variations of the surname Diga
The surname Diga (also spelled Dega) is believed to originate in Spain. Its variants include Diega, Doiga, Degas, Diago, Digas, and Degaz among others.
The phonetic variations of the surname Diga include Deega, Deagna, Doega, Deagga, Deigga, Deege, Diegha, Deawga, and Dyegha.
The Dega family is known for the prominent Spanish surname "Dega". It was adopted by several families in Spain during the 15th and 16th centuries. The variants of this surname are found in Portugal, Brazil, and some other Latin American countries.
The origin of the surname Diga is uncertain. It is believed to be of Spanish origin, but it is also possible that it is derived from a Basque word meaning "to dig up, excavate, or discover". In addition, there is a possibility that it may have evolved from a Latin root word meaning "divide".
In Italy, some families use variations of the surname such as Dighe, Deghe, and Digi. Variants of the surname Diga can be found in France, Belgium, and some parts of the Netherlands. In India, the Indian form of the name is Degam.
In the United States, Dega is the most common spelling of the name. Variants such as Dega, Diga, Diega, and Doiga are also found in the United States.
Overall, the surname Diga is an ancient name with many variants and spellings but the origin of the name remains an interesting mystery.
(200 words)
Famous people with the name Diga
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