Surname Duke's - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Duke's: What does the surname Duke's mean?
The last name Duke's is a German surname, with the root word originating from the Latin dux meaning leader or ruler. The name is derived from the Latin title dux, which was used for a war-leader in Medieval times. The title was widely used for military captains and commanders, as well as those in charge of regional cities.
In addition to being taken from the Latin title, the surname also originated from German nobles, who were by title, dukes, and form an additional branch of the family tree.
The German version of the word is “Herzog,” from which the phrase "Herzog Von” is derived. Meaning "against," the phrase indicated that the family was one of nobility, an established family of importance and someone to be respected.
Variations of the name Duke’s include: Dukes, Ducke, Deukes, Duzes, Duks, Deukens, Duikers, Duykers, and many more.
The name Duke's has been found all over the world. For example, immigrant Dutch settlers brought the name to various areas in North America. The Duke's family in the United States can be traced back to the late 1600s and 1700s, with recorded presences in South Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Wisconsin.
Records of the Duke's family dates as far back to the 11th century AD, when Hugo De Duche was recorded in Scotland in 1098AD. Over the centuries, this impressive family line continued to produce a variety of influential people who left their mark in history, ranging from politicians to military leaders.
Today, many people in the world with the name Duke’s regard their surname with a sense of pride and respect. It is an opportunity to remember the past and to continue to pay homage to the incredible people who have come before them.
Order DNA origin analysisDuke's: Where does the name Duke's come from?
The surname Duke is still common today, especially in the United States where it's ranked as the 559th most popular surname. It's especially popular in states in the south and parts of the Midwest. It has a heavy concentration in Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
The surname can likely be traced back to Norman roots, where the title of Duke or "duc" was a noble title given to the highest rank in the hierarchy. It first appears in records in the 12th century in England, and eventually made its way to the US, where many of the original settlers had Anglo-Saxon backgrounds. The origin of its popularity in the south is likely due to the fact that many of the earliest European settlers in the area were from the British Isles, and it's likely that most of them would have had familiar surnames.
The name is popular among celebrities, including basketball player Kyrie Irving, whose father's surname is Duke, and actor Sean Astin, who was given the middle name Duke. It's also the name of a clothing company, the Duke Clothing Company, and a major university, Duke University.
Despite its commonality, the Duke surname can still carry a sense of importance, especially for those with ancestral links to the original title holders.
Variations of the surname Duke's
Duke's (pronounced dookz) is a surname of French and English origin. There are variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, such as Dukes, Duc, Dux, and Duchesne.
The French spelling of Duke's is Duc, pronounced dooce. As a French surname, Duc is derived from the Latin dux, meaning "leader" or "commander". It could also be a cognate of the word ducat, a gold coin.
Dukes is the English spelling of Duke's. It is derived from the Old French duc, which is a cognate of the Latin dux.
Dux is a latinate variant of Duke's. It is derived from the Latin word dux, which is also the root of the word "duke".
Duchesne (pronounced doo-shen) is a variant spelling of Duke's. This surname is derived from a small French town of the same name. It is a combination of the Latin terms dux and castra, which mean "leader" and "fortress", respectively.
Overall, Duke's is an old and noble name of French and English origin, and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin provide a wide range of ways to spell the name.
Famous people with the name Duke's
- Vivica A. Fox: an American actress, producer, and television host
- John Wayne: an American actor, director, and producer
- Katharine Hepburn: an American actress, often known as "First Lady of American Cinema"
- Jeffrey Dukes: British artist and photographer
- Aaron Duke: an American professional basketball player
- Jason Duke: Canadian country music singer-songwriter
- Nicholas Dukes: an English actor, singer, and writer
- Martha Duke: American artist, muralist, and illustrator
- Anthony Duke: an American professional football player
- William Duke: American stage, film, and television actor