Surname Dwaine - Meaning and Origin
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Dwaine: What does the surname Dwaine mean?
The last name Dwaine is thought to be of English origin, with the meaning of ‘dweller by a wide valley’. It is believed to be a variant of the surname Duane, and is most common in the United States.
The surname Dwaine is also commonly found in Ireland, where it can be spelt various ways including Dwaine, Dwain, Duane, Dwayne and Dwane. It is thought to have its roots in the Gaelic language. The words ‘dubh’ or ‘duine’—meaning ‘black’ or ‘man’—are believed to be the source of the surname.
The Dwaine surname has been in use since the 16th century, when records indicate that a John Dwain was born in Meath, Ireland in 1573. Since the late 1800s, the Dwaine name has been among the top 1000 surnames in the United States.
The Dwaine name has been adopted by many families in different countries, and today it continues to be used by many generations around the globe. As time passes, the Dwaine surname continues to represent a long and proud history of people who have all shared the same name—no matter where their families originally came from.
Order DNA origin analysisDwaine: Where does the name Dwaine come from?
Dwaine is an English surname, originating from a medieval given name. It is an uncommon name, still used in some parts of England and Wales. It is also found in some areas of the United States and Canada.
In the United Kingdom, areas where the surname is most commonly found include Yorkshire, Kent, Sussex, and Shropshire. The name is also found in some parts of Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.
In the United States, Dwaine is commonly found in areas with large British heritage population such as Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. The surname is also found in some other states such as Louisiana, and Mississippi.
In other countries, Dwaine is most common in areas with a British presence, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Dwaine is an uncommon name today, but it is still recognized in some parts of the world. It remains popular in those areas where British heritage is strong, and it is often used as a given name in those places as well.
Variations of the surname Dwaine
The surname Dwaine is a variation of the Irish surname Dwane or O'Dwane, meaning "descendant of Dubhán". This surname originally began as a personal Irish name "Dubhán", meaning "little dark one" or "black-haired one". Historically, the surname is most associated with County Tipperary, though it has been found scattered throughout the country.
Dwaine is the most common spelling of the surname, though other variants include Dwain, Dwane, O'Dwane, and O'Dwain. It is also sometimes spelled Duane, though this is usually a spelling mistake.
Other family names that share the same origin as Dwaine include Dowen, O’Dowen, O’Dowin, O'Duan, and O'Duane.
Dwaine has also given rise to some ornamental variations used in the United States, such as Dwainey, Dwellaney, Dwayne, and Dwynne.
Though many bearers of the surname Dwaine have adopted other forms, such as Dwain, Dwane, or Duane, records show that more than five hundred people living in the United States still bear the name Dwaine.
Famous people with the name Dwaine
- McDaniel Dwaine "Magic" Johnson Jr., former basketball player
- Curly Dwaine Saxon, former singer in American roots, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues band, the Coasters
- Frank Dwaine Watkins, former American basketball player
- John Dwaine McKenna, former American football player
- Tim Dwight, American former football player
- Wilburn Dwaine Cardwell, former American football player
- Alvin Dwaine Johnson, former NHL player
- Todd Dwaine Boyd, former actor and writer
- Greg Dwaine O'Donnell, former major league pitcher
- Mark Dwaine Barton, former professional wrestler