Surname Dammes - Meaning and Origin
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Dammes: What does the surname Dammes mean?
The last name Dammes is of Dutch origin and is derived from the town of Damme, which is near Bruges, located in West Flanders, Belgium. The town name itself is derived from the Old Dutch word "damm" which means "dam" or "wall".
The original Dammes family line emigrated to the present-day Netherlands in the 1500s and settled there. By the mid-1700s, the current spelling of the last name Dammes appeared in various Dutch records.
Through the centuries, the surname Dammes has been associated with many people who have made a mark in Dutch history. For example, the modern Dutch hero Jan van Damme was a freedom fighter of Dutch independence. His descendant, Captain Adrian van Damme, was a distinguished naval captain who fought a successful battle against the Spanish Armada in the eighteenth century.
Although the Dammes surname is now spread throughout the world, many people with the Dammes last name still live in the Netherlands and Belgium. They usually spell their names in a variety of ways, such as Damen, Damm,Dammas, and Dam.
The Dammes family motto is “Gelukkig zijn er mogelijkheden” which translates to “There are possibilities for happiness.”
Order DNA origin analysisDammes: Where does the name Dammes come from?
The last name Dammes is most commonly seen in North Germany, particularly the state of Lower Saxony, and in certain other regions of Germany. Additionally, it is scattered across the US, with higher concentrations in areas such as Texas, Illinois, and Michigan.
The Dammes name is a relatively old one, being found as early as the 12th century in written records. This is also reflected in other versions of the name, such as "Damm" or "Dammes-Hofland", the latter of which appears also in the Netherlands.
The Dammes name is believed to derive from a 'lowland' or 'marshy region' and may indicate that at some point ancestors of this family may have lived there.
The Dammes family has had numerous notable descendants, most notably the theologian Andreas Dammes, born in 1569. He was the pastor of the Reformed Church in Gotha, and gained notoriety through his critical and scathing written remarks about the official theology of the times.
Today Dammes is a quite common name and continues to be seen among the population's surnames. Those with this name can be proud to be associated with a long family history.
Variations of the surname Dammes
The surname Dammes has its origins in Germanic countries, such as Germany, Netherlands and Belgium. It has various spelling variants, such as Damm, Damme, Dammes, Dammeshagen, Dammeshagen, Damsen, and Damsen.
In German, the name Dammes means "little dam" or "small brook," and is also thought to have been adopted as a nickname to distinguish one branch of a family from another. In the Netherlands, it is sometimes spelled as Dams, while in Belgium it is spelled Damm or Damme, both derivatives of the original German spelling.
The surname Dammeshagen can also be found in Germany, with the surname derived from the place name of Dammeshagen, which is now part of the town of Helmstadt in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Dammeshagen literally translates to “hagen (hedge) of damme (dams).”
In the United States, it is believed that the Dammes surname was adopted by immigrants from Germany. It is thought that the Americanized spelling of the name became "Damms" or "Dams."
The various spelling variants of the Dammes surname indicate distinct family lines that have descended from one particular ancestor. Since the surname was often adopted from a particular place of origin, it is likely that the various spellings of the surname originated in different countries and regions.
Famous people with the name Dammes
- Jacques Damme: Belgian actor and martial artist best known for popular film roles such as his Breakin’ performance.
- Rob van Damme: Dutch DJ, producer and vocalist known for EDM and hip-hop tracks.
- Tim Damme: Belgian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for KV Mechelen.
- Jill Damme: American actress, known for her role in the television series The Unit.
- Ron van Damme: Dutch actor, television director and producer.
- John Damme: Singer and songwriter of folk and alternative rock.
- Maurice Damme: French painter, illustrator and graphic designer.
- Scott Damon: American photographer who specializes in portraiture, fashion and lifestyle photography.
- Erik Damme: Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Steve Damme: Canadian actor and comedian, best known for the Comedy Central series Baroness von Sketch Show.