Surname Dumbar - Meaning and Origin
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Dumbar: What does the surname Dumbar mean?
The surname Dumbar is of Scottish origin and is classified as being of habitation, deriving from Dunbar, a town on the eastern coast of Scotland. The name "Dunbar" is composed of two sections: "dun," which means fort, and "barr," which stands for summit or height. So, the entire name can be translated to "fort on the summit," reflecting the topographical features of the region where the surname originated. Dumbar is therefore usually associated with families that resided near or on high fortifications. It's worth noting that there might be several variations in the spelling of the name including Dunbar, Dunbare, Dunbarr, Dunber, and Dunbhaird among others.
Order DNA origin analysisDumbar: Where does the name Dumbar come from?
The last name Dumbar is believed to originate from Scotland. It is a variant of "Dunbar", which is a Scottish name derived from a place in East Lothian, named Dunbar. The term itself consists of two elements: "Dun" meaning "fort" and "Barr" meaning "height" or "hill." Therefore, it is essentially a topographic name for someone who lived by a fort on a hill.
Considering its origin, Scotland remains the place where the last name Dumbar is rather common even today. However, due to historical migrations and diaspora, particularly during the period of British colonization, it is also found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and some parts of Europe. Despite this, it's important to note that it isn't exceedingly common in these locations, but has been recorded to be present.
Variations of the surname Dumbar
The surname Dumbar has quite a few variants and/or alternative spellings that could trace back to the same origin. Some of these include Dunbar, Dumbarr, Dumber, Dunbarr, Dunbear, and Dunbare. It is also quite common for different regions to pronounce and hence spell these surnames differently, adding more variants into the mix.
The origin of the surname Dumbar/Dunbar is Scottish, and it is geographical, deriving from 'Dunbar', a place located in East Lothian, Scotland. The name Dunbar itself comes from the Gaelic elements 'dun,' meaning 'fort,' and 'barr,' meaning 'summit' or 'top'. Therefore, similar surnames that have the same elements 'dun' and 'barr' in their spelling could potentially trace back to the same origin.
A few other surnames of the same origin, i.e., having a geographical reference to 'fort' might include names like Dunford, Durant, Duncalf, Dunstan, etc. But it's important to note that the name origin might vary with region and local dialects.
An interesting fact about the surname Dunbar: it was made famous by the Scottish medieval noble family, the Earls of Dunbar.
Famous people with the name Dumbar
- There are not many famous people with the last name Dumbar, probably due to misspelling. Instead, you may be looking for individuals with the last name Dunbar, to which there are quite a few including:
- Paul Laurence Dunbar: An influential African-American poet, novelist, and playwright in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Moses Dunbar: An American loyalist officer during the American Revolutionary War.
- Helen Flanders Dunbar: A significant figure in the psychosomatic medicine field during the 20th century.
- Rockmond Dunbar: A contemporary African-American actor known for his roles in TV series like "Prison Break" and "Sons of Anarchy."
- Allison Dunbar: A well-known actress famous for her roles in "Quick Draw" and "2 Broke Girls."
- Robert Dunbar: A Scottish publisher who focused on children's books.
- Jane Dunbar: An American actress known for her roles in the silent film era.
- Glover Dunbar: A former professional football player in the NFL.
- Robin Dunbar: A British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist famously known for the concept of "Dunbar's number".
- William Dunbar: A medieval Scottish poet. These are just a few examples of the well-known individuals associated with the name Dunbar.