Surname David - Meaning and Origin
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read moreDavid: What does the surname David mean?
The surname David is derived from the Hebrew personal name David which means 'beloved'. Originating in biblical times, it was spread throughout Europe following the Crusades in the Holy Land in the 11th to 13th centuries. The name is very popular in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures due to the biblical King David, a central figure in the Old Testament, renowned for his wisdom, musical skills and as the celebrated second King of Israel. The surname variants can be found as Davids, Davidson, Davis, Davies, Dawson, Devis and Deyvis among others, basically meaning "son of David". Despite its ancient origins, the surname did not become hereditary until the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, it is prevalent worldwide, including in the British Isles, parts of West Africa, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisDavid: Where does the name David come from?
The last name David is derived from the ancient Hebrew personal name, David, which means "beloved." This given name gained popularity due to the biblical King David, a significant figure in the Old Testament and the author of the Psalms. Two Saints of the Christian Church, David of Wales and David of Menevia, also boosted the name's popularity during the Middle Ages, causing it to be commonly used as a personal name throughout Europe.
As a surname, David typically indicates a patronymic origin, meaning it originally designated "son of David." The surname can be found in various forms worldwide due to Jewish and Christian diasporas, resulting in versions like Davis, Davidson, and Davison in English-speaking countries, Daoud in Arabic countries, and Devitt in Ireland.
Today, the surname David is common in several countries such as France, the United States, Romania, and the Philippines. It is also prevalent in Israel, not only due to its biblical origin but also because it is a common first name, creating a multitude of patronymic surnames.
Variations of the surname David
The surname David has multiple variants and spellings influenced largely by cultural and geographic adaptations. Some common variations include Davis, Davids, Davidson, Davies, and Davison. In French-speaking countries, it may take the form Davide or Daví. Other European cultures have their own adapted versions like Davidov in Russian, Daoud or Davidovici in Romanian, or Dávid in Hungarian.
The Sephardic Jewish community is known to use Da Costa, backward spelling Vidad while the Ashkenazi equivalent would be Taubman, which means "Dove man", translated from Yiddish Dav, "Dove".
The Italian variants Davidsoni or DiDavi are common; in Catalan, it is spelled as Daviu; while in Spanish it is known as Davida and in Portuguese as Davi.
The surname David is said to have originated from the Hebrew name David, meaning 'beloved'. The patronymic versions of the surname, such as Davidson or Davies, indicates a ‘son of David’. The Anglicisation of the surname is largely responsible for its various versions today.
It is important to note that these variants may exist independently as surnames in their own right. Different families with these surnames may not be related or might not share the same origins.
Famous people with the name David
- Larry David: an American comedian, writer, actor, director, and television producer, best known for co-creating the television series "Seinfeld."
- Craig David: a British singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer who rose to fame with hit songs such as ‘7 Days’ and ‘Fill Me In.’
- David Keith David: an American actor, voice actor, singer, and action coordinator, known for his roles in films like "Platoon" and "Crash."
- Felicia Day: Born Kathryn Felicia Day, she is a well-known American actress, writer, and web series creator popular for her show "The Guild."
- Stuart David: a Scottish musician, songwriter and novelist, and co-founder of the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian.
- F. R. David: a Tunisian-born French singer best known for his 1982 hit "Words."
- Peter David: an American author known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels.
- Keith David: an American actor, voice actor, and producer known for his work in films like "The Thing," "Armageddon," and "They Live."
- Jason Day: a professional golfer from Australia who has previously been ranked as the top golfer in the world.
- Bongani Khulani David: a South African footballer who plays as a forward for TS Galaxy.