Surname Dupee - Meaning and Origin

Dupee: What does the surname Dupee mean?

Dupee is a French last name, meaning “of the river” or “of the leaf”. This reflects the connection of this name to nature and waterways. It is thought that the surname originated with a French family who descended from the Old French word "dopl", meaning “older”.

The Dupées are thought to have had a long history in France, with members of the family playing an important role in the political and economic life of the medieval and early modern nation. Records of the earliest members of the Dupee family in France date back to the twelfth century, with many members of the family making their name in the military during the Hundred Years’ War and in other conflicts.

The Dupee family’s success in France would later carry on in the New World, with many members of the family making their fortune in the fur trade and other industries in colonial America. The legacy of the Dupee family in France and the United States has continued up to this day, with various branches of the family having established themselves in business, government, and other important fields.

The importance of the Dupee family’s legacy both in the French homeland and in the United States is reflected in the words of the surname itself – of the river, of the leaf: a connection to the natural elements of our world, and a reminder of a long and storied history in the New World.

Dupee: Where does the name Dupee come from?

The last name Dupee is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in New England. The name was first introduced to the area by French Protestant refugees who settled in Massachusetts during the 1670s. Since then, Dupee has had a considerable presence in the region. The name has been found in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and even as far south as Virginia and North Carolina.

According to the US Census, the last name Dupee is still very common in the Northeast, and is found less commonly in other parts of the US. In 2018, the US Census listed 857 households with the last name Dupee living in the United States, with a majority concentrated in Massachusetts (229 households), Rhode Island (161 households), Connecticut (115 households), and New Hampshire (107 households).

Dupee is also one of the most common last names in Canada, mostly concentrated in the province of Quebec, where it is likely that other French Huguenot refugees from the same historical period settled. In 2017, the last name Dupee ranked 970th in terms of frequency of occurrence in the Canadian population, and was found in 824 households.

Today, the last name Dupee is still most common in the Northeast United States and in Quebec, making it a common enough name but one that is not necessarily widely recognized outside of those regions.

Variations of the surname Dupee

Dupee is an English surname which is derived from the French Dupey or Duplessy, a nickname for a simpleton or a foolish person or similar. The spelling of the surname has varied over time, with 'Dupee', 'Dupey', 'Duplessy', 'Dupe', 'Dupuis' or 'Deuprey' being some of the more factual spellings, though many other spellings and variants exist.

The word 'dupe' (or 'doupe' and 'dupé') comes from the Latin 'duplus', meaning a double or something consisting of two parts. This was itself derived from the Latin adjective 'duplus' meaning double or 'twofold'. The addition of the French diminutive suffix '-eau' or '-eau' to the word 'duplus' created the name Dupee, literally meaning 'little double'. The surname may have then been given to people with physical similarities such as twins, or alternatively to people who had the same first name.

Dupee remains a relatively uncommon surname, though it is still widely found throughout the English-speaking world. Variants of the surname include 'Dupe', 'Duplessy', 'Dupee', 'Dupey', 'Dupuis' and 'Deuprey'. In some regions, the spelling has been influenced by local pronunciations and spellings, so you may also find other spellings such as 'Deupree', 'Duphas', 'Dupay', 'Daeprey' and 'Dobry'.

Famous people with the name Dupee

• Sarah Dupee: Sarah is an actress and comedian, best known for her roles in She's Out of My League (2010), Control Alt Delete (2008), and Beach Party at Walt & Skeezix (2003).
• Jamie Dupee: Jamie is a professional hockey player who currently plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2001 NHL Draft.
• Dana Dupee: Dana is an American businesswoman and entrepreneur, best known for establishing the popular gourmet food subscription box Dupee Delicious.
• David Dupee: David is an American film and television producer, as well as the founder of the production company Provo Pictures.
• Gary Dupee: Gary is an American professor, author, and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of the Institute for the Future, a research organization dedicated to anticipating and preparing for trends and disruptions in the changing world.
• Jennifer Dupee: Jennifer is an American singer and songwriter. She has released two studio albums, Fireworks (2018) and Cauldron (2020).
• Jack Dupee: Jack is a voice actor, best known for his work in animated television shows and video games, such as Death Stranding and We Bare Bears.
• Abigail Dupee: Abigail is a fashion designer and socialite, best known for her eponymous women's clothing line. She has been featured in Forbes Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Other surnames

DuPenDupes