Surname Dignum - Meaning and Origin
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Dignum: What does the surname Dignum mean?
The last name Dignum is of British origin, derived from the Middle English given name "Dignum". It is thought to have originally referred to someone regarded as dignified or impressive.
The suffix "um" at the end of the name is believed to mean "son of", so it could suggest a paternal lineage from someone known to be dignified or impressive. The name is thought to have been established in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and can be frequently found in records from the 11th century.
The name is recorded to have multiple variants, these include: Digneam, Digname, Dignem, Dignon, Dignum, Dignume and Donyme.
Today the surname Dignum is widespread throughout England, particularly in the southern part of the country. It is estimated that there are close to 3,000 people with the surname living in the United Kingdom today.
Order DNA origin analysisDignum: Where does the name Dignum come from?
The last name Dignum is not particularly common today, as its usage was most heavily concentrated in certain countries throughout history. The surname is said to have been primarily used in Western Europe, most notably in the British Isles. The specific countries that it is found in today are not known, and it may be spread out in localized areas throughout Western Europe. However, the surname is not as popular as it has been in the past.
There are records of the Dignum surname appearing in England since the 13th century, when it was used by makes of saddles in Norfolk as well as by tailor's in Berkshire. Over time, the surname became fairly widespread in England, with Dignums being found in records of parish registers, in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and in the ancient inheritance records of heraldry.
Since that time, a few Dignums have appeared here and there in Europe, sometimes as far afield as Sweden and Hungary, but it is most common in England. It has been theorized that some of the surname may have been brought to the New World by emigrants from Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, as some people with the name Dignum can be found in America today.
In general, though, the Dignum surname is not a common one. It was more widespread in the past than it is now, and its presence is scattered throughout Europe and America.
Variations of the surname Dignum
The surname Dignum is an English origin name meaning ‘worthy’. It has a variety of alternate variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including: Dignam, Dignan, Dignom, Dignon, Digman, Digmon, Dignem, Dignome, Dignumme, Digmann, Dignamme, Dignham, Denham, Denman, Denmon, Denom, Denome, Denumme and Dignamme.
The surname may have also evolved from the Gaelic ‘Ó Duinnín’, a variant of Donnelly, where ‘donn’ means ‘brown’ and ‘dunn’ means ‘dark’. The surname also has several other variants, such as: Dominy, Dunning and Donnely.
The variant Dignam is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name ‘O Duinnin’. It is also found as a variant of the surname Dunning.
In modern times, variations in spelling of the family name have resulted in many surnames including: Dignim, Dignin, Dignen, Dignom, Dignum, Dignon, Dignon.
Overall, the surname Dignum can take different forms and spellings depending on its origin and evolution. This includes anglicised versions of the original Gaelic name 'O Duinnín' such as Dignam, Dignem and Denham. It can also take further variants such as Dunning and Donnely. Similarly, modern day spellings of the same surname include Dignin, Dignim, Dignen, Dignom, Dignon and Dignumme.
Famous people with the name Dignum
- William Dignum, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex.
- Ernest Dignum, Australian architecture historian and conservationist.
- Neil Dignum, British Paralympic T38 sprinter.
- John Dignum, English cricketer.
- John Dignum, English science fiction writer.
- Thomas Dignum, English film and television actor.
- F. J. Dignum, English chemist and mineralogist.
- Charles Dignum, British soldier and Victoria Cross recipient.
- David Dignum, British diplomat.
- Alfred Dignum, British Army officer and Victoria Cross recipient.