Surname Dark - Meaning and Origin
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Dark: What does the surname Dark mean?
The last name "Dark" is of English origin and typically refers to a person who has dark complexion, dark hair, or dark features. This name is descriptive in nature and probably would have been used in the Middle Ages to differentiate between individuals with similar first names in smaller communities. The surname "Dark" not only referred to the physical appearance of a person but could also possibly imply their nature. Like many other last names, it's reflective of humans' ancient need to identify each other more precisely. It was derived from the Old English pre-7th century word "deorc," meaning dark or obscure. Additionally, it could potentially denote someone who lived in a poorly lit or hidden location, which was shaded or dark. Geographic features such as these were often used to generate surnames during the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, spellings of surnames have undergone many changes, and variations of this particular surname include Darke and D'Arke. The surname Dark is relatively rare and can be found most frequently in England.
Order DNA origin analysisDark: Where does the name Dark come from?
The surname Dark is most commonly found in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In Australia, Dark is a more uncommon surname and tends to be concentrated along Australia's east coast in regions such as New South Wales and Victoria. According to data in 2000 collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately one-third of Dark family members resided in the area surrounding Melbourne, Victoria's capital city.
In Canada, Dark is also an uncommon last name, most likely of recent origin due to mass migration in the early- to mid-19th century. Records from 1881 show that the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia had the most Dark individuals.
In New Zealand, the surname Dark is not overly common and was less likely to be found than in Australia or Canada.
The United States Census Bureau has collected data on Dark family members since its first census in 1790, but records show that it is still a relatively uncommon surname. The most common states that had Dark family members in 2019 were Georgia, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
In the United Kingdom, Dark is an even more rare surname and is mostly concentrated in England and Scotland. According to the Office of National Statistics, England had the most Dark family members, with nearly 2,000 recorded in 2019. Scotland had approximately 1,000. Dark family members are also found in Wales and Ireland.
Overall, the surname Dark is not especially common, and is most concentrated in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is much less common in other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Dark
The surname Dark is derived from the Old English term 'Daerce', which refers to a person who lived near or on a forest. The variant spellings of this surname are Darke, de la Derk, Darrke and de Arc. It is also common to find the surname spelled as Darkes.
Another variation of the surname is Darker, which can be used interchangeably with Dark. Other variations include De Arc and De Derk, which also became popular in England and the Netherlands. The Dutch version includes 'de Derk', which means 'of the Dark'.
The surname is also found in other parts of the world, including France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In France, variations such as Ténèbres, Ténèbre and Tenebre are found.
In Germany, a common variant of the surname is Dunkler. Dunkler is derived from the Old German word 'dunckel', which means 'dark'. Other variations, such as Dunk, Durk, Durkheimer and Durks, also exist in German.
The surname Dark is also found among Jewish families. Variations such as Daiches, Darks, Darkheims and Daicher have become popular names for Ashkenazi Jews.
All these variations of the surname Dark can be traced back to its Old English origin. The surname is a reminder of our past and our ancestors, and it brings to us a sense of continuity and timelessness.
Famous people with the name Dark
- Marianne Dark: Singer, actor and songwriter
- June Dark: Actress in the 1940s
- Selena Dark: Model and former beauty queen
- Jordan Dark: DJ and musician
- Nick Dark: Musician in the band Enchant
- Adam Dark: Award-winning filmmaker
- Andrew Dark: Actor and voice actor
- Dax Dark: Professional mixed martial artist
- Aziz Dark: British rapper, songwriter and producer
- Jourdain Dark: Visual artist and designer