Surname Dinwoodie - Meaning and Origin
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Dinwoodie: What does the surname Dinwoodie mean?
The last name Dinwoodie is believed to have originated in Scotland. Although the exact origin of the surname is unknown, it is likely derived from a place-name. It has been suggested that the name may have originated from Dinnody, a location in Scotland, although this is not certain.
The surname Dinwoodie is likely of topographic origin, and could have been given to those who lived near a particular physical feature. Alternatively, the surname may have been derived from a location-name, and indicate the ancestral residence of the bearer.
The patronymic variant of Dinwoodie is MacDinwoodie, which is common among people of Scottish descent. Mac means "son of" in Scottish Gaelic, and indicates that the bearer is the descendant of the original family with the Dinwoodie name.
The name also has variant spellings, including Dinwiddie, Dinwiddy, Dinwood, Dinwoodey and Dinwiddy. This could indicate the phonetic variations which have evolved over time due to the geographical mobility of the family, or merely be the result of different spellings which were interchangeable.
The meaning of the name Dinwoodie is not certain, as the exact origin of the surname is unknown. However, it does likely indicate the original home or ancestral background of the bearer. More than that, the name has come to represent a proud Scottish heritage for those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisDinwoodie: Where does the name Dinwoodie come from?
The last name Dinwoodie is not a particularly common name worldwide today. It originated in Scotland and is most commonly found in some regions of North America, especially Canada.
In the United States, the Dinwoodie surname is concentrated mainly in Utah and the Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as in some areas of the southeastern states.
The name was typically found in land deeds and other Scottish records prior to the 1760s before the family began to spread to Canada, and eventually the United States. It is believed to be of Scottish origin, and a variant of the English surname Denwood.
Today, the name Dinwoodie is especially common in Canada, where it holds the rank of 8,386th among the country's most common names. It is still most commonly found in some of the Maritime provinces, as well as Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
In general, the name Dinwoodie is not particularly common outside of North America. Its relative rarity makes it an interesting choice for families seeking an uncommon surname, since there is a strong chance of being the only person with that name in any given area.
Variations of the surname Dinwoodie
The surname Dinwoodie is derived from the Old English words 'dene' and 'wudu', meaning a deep forest or wood. Variants of this surname may be spelled Dinwoody, Denwodey, Dinwiddie, Denwoody, Dennwodey, Dennwiddy, Denwiddy, Dennwuddle and Denwoddle.
Surnames related to Dinwoodie are usually derived from various nicknames and given names. For example, 'Dinwoddle' may come from a diminutive form of the given name 'Donald', while 'Dinwiddy' may be derived from a pet form of the given name 'David'. The name 'Denwodey' may also be derived from a place name.
In addition, the surname can also be found in other countries and spellings, such as Dennwohl in Germany, Dennwood in Australia, Denwood in Canada and Dennwood in the United States.
It is also related to other popular surnames such as Dinwiddie, Denwoody, Denwoode, Denwoodey, Dinwoodey and Denwoddle. These surnames may have initially been formed as a patronymic, based on the first name of an ancestor such as Dinwod, Denwode or Denwod.
Overall, the surname Dinwoodie has various spellings and related surnames, all of which likely have different origins. It can be found in various countries, and is derived from nicknames, given names and place names.
Famous people with the name Dinwoodie
- Dale Dinwoodie: The actor best known for his roles in The Adventures of Tintin and Heaven and Earth is Power.
- Lawrence Dinwoodie: An American politician and former United States Representative from New Jersey who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1941 to 1951.
- Stewart Dinwoodie: An Olympic boxer who won a silver medal for the lightweight division at the 1948 London Olympics.
- Ellwood Dinwoodie: A Canadian soccer player who played professionally during the 1950s and 1960s for teams including the Vancouver Columbus and Victoria Province.
- Sam Dinwoodie: A former professional ice hockey player who played with the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Stuart Dinwoodie: An American attorney, legal educator, and federal tax policy expert who is a professor at the George Mason University School of Law and is Principal of the Dinwoodie Law.
- James Dinwoodie: A Scottish professional footballer who was born and raised in Scotland and later settled in Canada.
- Jack Dinwoodie: An Australian professional cyclist who competed in the United Kingdom and the United States from 1963 to 1984.
- Jemma Dinwoodie: An American beauty pageant winner who was crowned Miss USA in 2006, and represented the United States in the Miss Universe competition that same year.
- Bill Dinwoodie: A British television presenter, radio presenter, journalist and author who has appeared on numerous shows including "Full House", "Radio 2 Breakfast", "The Early Show" and "The Wright Stuff".