Surname Dams - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Dams: What does the surname Dams mean?
The last name Dams is a toponymic, meaning it is derived from a place name, and is of Dutch origin. The exact origin of the name is unknown, but it may have been derived from the Dutch word “damm,” which originally referred to a small river dyke. As dykes often stretch miles and miles along a coastline, many Dutch towns and villages take their name from them.
Variations of the name such as Damme, Damen, and De Damme are found in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and France; therefore it is possible for people with the last name Dams to have ancestors from any of these countries. The name is also popular in the United States, especially on the East Coast.
This last name is rarely found as a first name, however it can occasionally be found in French records as Dam, with is occasionally given as a baptismal name in a specifically Catholic context. Some people with the last name Dams may also be descended from Dutch settlers who moved to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the name may have stayed with them.
Overall, the last name Dams is a rare name which carries Dutch ancestry and is usually found in the United States and several European countries. Its derivation from a river dyke is an interesting piece of history, which is likely to have been forgotten by most of its modern owners.
Order DNA origin analysisDams: Where does the name Dams come from?
The surname Dams is a modern German surname. It is most commonly found across Germany, although it is also fairly prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, it has a notable presence in parts of the United States, including North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
The surname is thought to have emerged as an occupational name for a dam builder or keeper. Dams were incredibly important structures for the Medieval period, acting as flood control methods, irrigation for crops, fish hatcheries, and mill-ponds for powering water wheels. Thus, the people who worked on these structures were highly valued in their communities.
In the 16th Century, Dams was beginning to appear as a surname in Germany and other nearby countries. It also began to migrate to the United States in the 19th Century, as many German immigrants arrived on the eastern seaboard. As these immigrants moved westward, they began to introduce the surname to other regions.
Today, the surname Dams can be found throughout Germany and the surrounding countries. It is also found in many parts of the United States, with larger concentrations in Midwestern states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. With the rise of modern genealogical research, many people who have the surname Dams are now looking back to their ancestral roots and learning more about the history behind their family name.
Variations of the surname Dams
The surname Dams is of Dutch, German, French and English origin. The Dutch version of the name is spelled as Daams, while the German and French versions of the name is spelled as Damms and Dammes respectively. Variant spellings of the surname Dams in English include Damms, Daems, Daames, Dams, and Dammes.
Surnames with similar etymologies and origins include Dam, Damsma, Daems, Daem, and Dammann. All of these are derived from the Middle High German word “damen”, which means “little lord” or “lord's daughter”.
The Dutch version of the surnames are typically found in regions in the Netherlands, while the German and French variants of the name are found in Germany and France respectively.
The surname Dams is also found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, the earliest known ancestor of the Dams family is Johannes Dammes from Middelburg, Zeeland, who lived in the late 16th century.
Some variants of the surname are linked with notable personalities such as American-Canadian actor and politician Vince Dams (born 1926), who was involved in various political campaigns in the United States and Canada. There have also been many other people who have earned notability in various fields from this surname, such as the famous Dutch painter, Jan Daams (1573–1608).
Famous people with the name Dams
- Matthijs de Ligt: Dutch professional football player
- Neelam Dams: Australian actor
- Ben Dams: Dutch business executive
- Peter van der Dams: French comics artist
- Léon Dams: Belgian athlete
- Olaf Dams: German Olympic silver medalist
- James Dams: Spanish cyclist
- Marcel van Dam: Dutch presenter and former politicians
- Cornelus Dams: Dutch professional golfer
- Johnson Dams: British comedian