Surname Delaware - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Delaware: What does the surname Delaware mean?
The last name Delaware is derived from the Delaware River and Bay in the United States, which were named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor. The Lenape, an indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, were also referred to as the "Delaware Indians". Therefore, the last name Delaware can refer to a geographical origin, likely indicating that the person's ancestors were from that region. It could also possibly denote a connection with the native Delaware tribe. However, like many surnames, the exact meaning can vary and may have a unique significance to each family with that name.
Order DNA origin analysisDelaware: Where does the name Delaware come from?
The surname Delaware is of locational origin, deriving from the State of Delaware in the United States. It was first named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor. The name "Delaware" itself has a complicated history, with various spellings such as "De La Warr," and it eventually took its present form.
Unsurprisingly, the surname is most common in the United States, particularly in areas where early settlements took place such as the Northeast. However, it's not one of the country's most common surnames. It might also be found among descendants of American immigrants in other parts of the world. Variations of the name include Delware, Della Ware, Dela Ware, and Delawar, among others. It's also sometimes given as a first name. As a surname though, its occurrence remains relatively rare.
Beyond the State of Delaware, the name has further recognition value from the Delaware River and Delaware Indian tribe. The tribe, known officially as the Lenape, were the original inhabitants of the Delaware Valley and were uprooted due to European colonial expansion. They're also known as the Delaware Indians after the Europeans re-named the river, tribe, and territory.
Variations of the surname Delaware
The surname Delaware is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically from the Delaware River or the Delaware Indian tribe, in the United States. Throughout history, many spelling variations of this surname have appeared as languages evolved and spelling, even of names, became standardized. Some variants might include Delawarr, De La Warr, Deleware, De La Ware, and Delawar.
In some cases, Delaware has been anglicized or gave rise to other surnames due to regional accents, record keeping practices, or even translation between languages. For instance, the French form of the surname might appear as De La Guerre.
It's important to note that the Delaware River was named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor. Therefore, the surname West and its variants may also be taken into consideration for the surnames of the same origin.
However, Delaware is not a common surname and takes various forms depending on the geographic location, ancestry, and individual family histories. Therefore, variations might be unique to each family line.
Famous people with the name Delaware
- Jack Delaware: an American poet and television writer with works published in anthologies such as The Best American Poetry
- Pat Delaware: a former American football coach
- Jeff Delaware: a former Major League Baseball player
- Annabelle Delaware: a former American tennis player
- Charles Delaware: an actor who starred in films such as The Big Lebowski
- Kenneth Delaware: a former judoka and Gold Medalist in the 1938 World Championships
- Dianne Delaware: an American singer and songwriter
- Wilbur Delaware: a former American basketball player
- Harold Delaware: an American writer and professor at UCLA
- Julian Delaware: an American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003