Surname Diniz - Meaning and Origin
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Diniz: What does the surname Diniz mean?
The last name Diniz is a toponymic surname of Portuguese origin, making it mostly found in Portugal and Brazil. The name is derived from the small town of Diniz, located in northern Portugal near the Portuguese-Spanish border. The town was named for its first inhabitant, an 11th century nobleman and landowner named Dinis (who is largely considered the first count of Portugal).
The surname Diniz is derived from the given name Dinis, and was likely adopted as a last name sometime in the 12th century. Structurally, the name is translated as the "son of Dinis" or "descendant of Dinis." It's also possible that the surname was taken on to represent the family's connection to the region of Diniz.
Aside from Portugal and Brazil, the surname is relatively common in other parts of Europe, such as in Spain, Germany, and Belgium. According to some sources, Diniz was the 25th most common surname in Portugal for 2020.
The bearer of the last name Diniz is said to be traditionally associated with the sea. The Dinis family was one of the first seafaring merchant families in Portugal, tracing back its beginnings to the 11th century. Many who bear the Diniz surname still have a fondness for the maritime industry, such as navigation, fishing, and marine engineering.
Order DNA origin analysisDiniz: Where does the name Diniz come from?
Diniz is a Portuguese surname, so it is most commonly found in Portugal and its former colonies. Those countries include Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Macau, and East Timor. Furthermore, due to Portuguese immigration, people with the last name Diniz can also be found in parts of Europe, North America and Australasia.
For those with Portuguese heritage, there is a chance they may have the last name Diniz. It is considered a fairly common Portuguese surname, usually more common among people from the northern and central parts of the Iberian Penninsula.
In Portugal, the name Diniz can be found in the Faro region, as well as in the Estremadura and the Azores regions. Additionally, Diniz is a relatively popular name in the largest cities in Portugal, such as Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra.
Due to Portuguese migration to other countries in the past, Diniz can also be found in large Portuguese diaspora populations. These include countries such as France, the United States, Argentina, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Mozambique, and South Africa. However, the last name is much less common in these countries, as compared to its prevalence in Portugal.
Variations of the surname Diniz
The surname Diniz has several variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin. These include Deniz, Denys, De Neys, Denizio, Denisco, Dinis, Denysse, Denizy, Denizeau, Dinnizio, Dense, Dennison, Denicoeur, Denysen, Denijs and Dionisio.
The surname’s origin is thought to have originated from the Latin word ‘dominus’, meaning lord or master. The surname is believed to have been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) during the Reconquista period, and from there spread to countries such as Brazil, where it is most common.
In Portugal, the spelling may also appear as Dinís and Deniz, as in the case of the Portuguese film producer Frederico Dinís or TV actor Lucas Deniz. The Portuguese surname was also taken up in its modified form of Denisse in country’s Centre-West region.
In Spain, the surname may also appear as Deniz or Dinizio. In the provinces of Galicia and Valladolid, the spelling is typically Dinís. In Catalonia, the spelling is typically Deniz.
In France, the surname may also appear as Denicoeur or Denizy and in Italy the surname could be found as Dinnizio or Dionisio.
In the United States, the simplified versions of Diniz and Deniz are most popular. The variant spellings of Dennison and Denizeau are also fairly common.
Overall, the surname Diniz is a patronymic name meaning ‘son of Dinis’ and can be found in countries around the world with variants in spelling and other surnames of similar origin.
Famous people with the name Diniz
- Marisa Diniz: Brazilian gymnast who competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Carlos Diniz: Brazilian footballer who played for Portugal's Benfica and SL Benfica.
- Adriana Diniz: Brazilian judoka who won the gold medal at the 2002 South American Championships.
- Fabio Diniz: Brazilian futsal player who competed in the 2006 Futsal World Cup.
- Rafael Diniz: Portuguese actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter.
- Danilo Diniz: Brazilian race car driver who has raced in Formula Ford, Formula Three, and Le Mans.
- Adielson Diniz: Brazilian football player who has played for several clubs in his home country, including Botafogo.
- Pedro Diniz: Brazilian race car driver, best known for his performances in Formula One.
- Patricia Diniz: Brazilian singer and songwriter, performing in the genres of pop and rock.
- Marco Diniz: Brazilian singer and composer, creating music in a variety of styles, including reggae, MPB, and hip-hop.