Surname Dever - Meaning and Origin
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Dever: What does the surname Dever mean?
The surname Dever is of Irish origin, and it is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dubhir", meaning "descendant of Dubhir". Dubhir is a personal name composed of elements meaning "black" and "dark", therefore the overall surname can be interpreted as "descendant of the black or dark one". This could possibly be a reference to the original bearer's hair color, complexion, or even their disposition. It's important to note that last names could have different origins and meanings in different cultures. The spelling variations of Dever could include Devere, Dever, Devre, and many more, each stemming from different branches of the original Gaelic family. As with many surnames, the Dever surname can also be found in records dating back many centuries, providing a glimpse into the family's geographical distribution and historical impact.
Order DNA origin analysisDever: Where does the name Dever come from?
The surname Dever is of Irish origin. This name derives from the Gaelic "D’Eimhir", meaning “descendant of Emer”, with Emer being a personal name derived from 'eimh', meaning ‘swift’. The name is believed to have emanated from the County Mayo region in the West of Ireland.
There also has been links found with the surname 'Devere', an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Diomasaigh ‘descendant of Diomasach’, a personal name meaning 'proud'. Several families of this name settled in France, hence the spelling Devere.
In the United States, the name Dever is more common today, particularly in the states of New York, Ohio, and Kentucky. There are also significant numbers of Devers in Australia, England, and Canada. However, despite the global dispersion of the Irish due to emigration, the name is still most common in the western parts of Ireland, including its place of origin, County Mayo.
Variations of the surname Dever
The surname Dever has variations that are thought to have originated from different regions or as a result of phonetic translations and spelling alterations over time. Some of these variants and related surnames include Devere, Devre, Devyr, Devor, Devour, Devera, Devero, Devereux, and Deverell.
There are also related surnames such as Devers, Deavours, Devours, Devors, Devericks, and Deverix which can be traced to the same root as Dever. It is often found in several cultures with different spellings such as D'Ever (French) or DeVeer (Dutch).
The surname is understood to have an Irish origin mainly from the Gaelic O'Deirbhir, meaning ‘descendant of Deirbhir’. Consequently, there are numerous Irish variations including D'Evere, Devere, and O'Dever.
The names DeVere and Deverell are often seen in English records as a related form of Dever. As in the case with many surnames, the spelling depends much on transcription, pronunciation and regional dialects, leading to a wide variety of forms and specific derivations.
Further, Irish surnames that were Anglicized during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries often have multiple variants due to the translation from Gaelic phonetics to English.
Famous people with the name Dever
- Kaitlyn Dever: An American actress known for her roles in "Booksmart," "Justified," and "Unbelievable."
- Julie Dever: Author of several romantic suspense novels.
- James Dever: An American actor known for his roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Orville."
- Bill Dever: An American film producer.
- Micky Dever: An Irish former Gaelic footballer.
- Jack Dever: An Australian rugby league footballer.
- Joe Dever: A British fantasy author and game designer.
- Leonard Dever: An American U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.
- William Watson Dever: An Australian pastoralist and politician in Queensland.
- Dick Dever: An American politician representing North Dakota.
- Emily Dever: A film and television actress, known for her work on "Teen Wolf," "Awkward," and "Faking It."
- George Dever: An American visual artist who specializes in traditional printmaking.
- Alex Dever: A professional American ice hockey player.