Surname Dingwall - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Dingwall: What does the surname Dingwall mean?
The last name Dingwall is a Scottish topographic surname that originated in Normandy, France. It is derived from the words "ding" and "wall," which refer to either a grassy slope or an earthen wall, particularly one covered with short grass.
The etymological origin of the surname “Dingwall” is derived from the Old English word “ding,” which translates to “slope” or “precipice.” Although its precise origin is uncertain, it is believed by some researchers that the name referred to a grassy slope inhabited by wild animals such as deer or foxes. The second element in the name, “wall,” likely describes either an earthen wall or a fortified enclosure.
The most probable origin of the name “Dingwall” is the city of Dingwall in Scotland, located in a region known as Ross-shire. Historically, the people who lived here were known as the Dingwells, a clan of Pictish-Celtic descent.
Today, the Dingwall name is mostly associated with Scotland, although it is still quite common in England and several other countries around the world. It is a reminder of the days when people were named after geographical locations and certain features of the landscape in which they lived.
Order DNA origin analysisDingwall: Where does the name Dingwall come from?
The surname Dingwall is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highland regions of the country. The name may have derived from a place near Dingwall in north-western Scotland, or a combination of 'ding' (an old Scots word for a large steep sided hollow) and 'wall' (a boundary or fence). The Dingwall family were said to have lived in Dingwall Castle in the centuries before 1700, and branches of the family began to spread across Europe.
In Scotland the Dingwall family is still found in almost every county from Perthshire to Inverness-shire, in areas such as Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire. The majority of Dingwalls in Scotland also live in the Highland regions, such as Inverness, Nairn and Ross-shire.
In addition to Scotland, the Dingwall surname is also present in many countries around the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The name tends to be more widespread in Commonwealth countries due in part to Scottish emigration.
In the United States, Dingwalls can be found in various states, with the highest concentrations of Dingwalls living in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York.
It is unclear exactly how many people with the Dingwall surname still exist but is likely that a few thousand individuals still use the name in the present day.
Variations of the surname Dingwall
The surname Dingwall has a range of alternative spelling variations, variants and surnames of similar origin. These include Dingwell, Dingwells, Dingwalls, Dingles, Dingal, Dingles, Dingalls, Dingells, Dyngal and Dyngalls.
Dingwell is believed to be a contraction of ‘Dingle wall’, relating to a region in Scotland which was named Dingle. Derived from the Old Norse word Diungul, meaning ‘small valley’, the name ‘Dingle’ was widely used to describe various small valleys and glens around the country.
The Dingwalls surname is most commonly found in Scotland, and is believed to have been first used in the parish of Dingwall, in the Ross-shire area of Scotland.
Dingles and Dingalls are believed to be derived from the Middle English words denec or dinge, meaning ‘swamp’ or ‘boggy’.
Dingal and Dyngal are believed to be derived from the Old English words dungal or dyngal, meaning ‘dung’ or ‘a pile of dung’.
Dyngalls is believed to originate from the place name Dyngalls which is located near Barnard Castle, County Durham in England.
The Dingalls surname is believed to have first been used in Lancashire, England and is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word ‘dingull’, which means ‘small valley’.
Dingell is believed to be derived from the Middle English word dingle which means ‘small valley’ and is believed to have originated in Lancashire, England.
All of these surnames are believed to be linked to the Dingwall surname, which originated from the area of Dingwall in the Ross-shire region of Scotland.
Famous people with the name Dingwall
- Stephen Dingwall: Canadian politician and professor
- Jamie Dingwall: British actor
- Angus Dingwall: Tutor and Reason programme director
- Anni Dingwall: British darts player
- Ryan Dingwall: American film actor
- James Dingwall: Jamaican film director and screenwriter
- Duncan Dingwall: Australian television presenter
- Henry Dingwall: professional football player for the Brisbane Lions
- Grant Dingwall: Canadian speed skater
- Graham Dingwall: music composer
- Lars Dingwall: Australian cricketer
- Paul Dingwall: British tennis player
- Jocelyn Dingwall: Canadian Olympic athlete
- Stuart Dingwall: British sound recordist
- Marilyn Dingwall: Canadian radiology technician
- Daniel Dingwall: British professor of medicine
- Lawrence Dingwall: Canadian Olympic rower