Surname Divine - Meaning and Origin

Divine: What does the surname Divine mean?

The last name "Divine" is of English and French origin. In Old French, it was "devine", which was an occupational name for a soothsayer or fortune teller. The word divine itself originates from the Latin word "divinus", meaning "of a god", and can also broadly mean "godly" or "excellent". Therefore, those bearing the surname "Divine" could be descended from someone who was considered to have godlike qualities or was involved in religious work. Alternatively, the ancestors could have been fortune tellers or soothsayers. As with most surnames, it can be challenging to determine the exact meaning and history due to various regions and eras adopting it for different reasons. Nonetheless, the common thread among all interpretations of the surname "Divine" is something exceptional, elevated, or supernatural.

Divine: Where does the name Divine come from?

The surname Divine is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old French word "devine," which means "heavenly" or "godlike." It was often used as a nickname for someone with godlike qualities or who played the part of God in a medieval play. It was first found in Norfolk in Eastern England, during the 13th century.

Today, the surname Divine continues to be most common in the United States, especially in the states of California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. There is also a significant presence in England, particularly in areas where the name first originated. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have lesser but noticeable populations with the Divine surname. Despite its religious connotations, the distribution of the name Divine is not noticeably concentrated in traditionally religious areas. Instead, it appears to have spread somewhat evenly across English-speaking regions, reflecting more the movement and migration patterns of people with the surname rather than a connection to a specific religious or cultural group.

Variations of the surname Divine

The surname Divine, as a variant of Devine, could have multiple origins including Irish, English, Scottish and Jewish. In Ireland, it often derives from the Gaelic surname "Ó Daimhín", which means "descendant of Daimhín". It might also come from the name Davin in English-speaking regions.

Variants and alternate spellings of the surname Divine include Devine, Devane, Davin, Deveney, and Devenny. These surnames are sometimes found interchanged in records, indicating their similar pronunciations. In Scotland, Devenney and Devaney are other observed versions. In Jewish lineage, it may derive from a personal name, David, resulting in variations such as Davidson or Davison.

The surname display region-specific characteristics as well. For instance, it would become Davinet in France or Davini in Italy. Such surnames can be subject to further variations due to linguistic or regional differences, changes in spelling standards over time, or translation between languages. Therefore, tracking the exact evolution of the surname is complex. Sales, baptismal and immigration records often hold clues to the many versions and spellings of a particular surname.

Famous people with the name Divine

• Harris Glenn Milstead, better known by his stage name Divine, was an American actor, singer, and drag queen closely associated with the independent filmmaker John Waters.
• Adam Divine, is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer, and singer. He is one of the stars and co-creators of the Comedy Central series 'Workaholics'.
• Barry Divine, an actor known for “Assault of the Killer Bimbos” (1988) and “Alien Space Avenger” (1989).
• Billy Divine, a British television presenter.
• Dusa McDuff (nee Divine), a British mathematician who has made fundamental contributions to the field of symplectic geometry.
• Vivian Divine, a British film actress active during the silent era of the 1920s.
• Divine, an Indian rapper and hip-hop artist whose real name is Vivian Fernandez.
• Laura Divine, is an actress and director, known for "One of Us" (2019), and "Black Pumpkin" (2018).
• ), Divine, born as Richard Dunn, is a Ghanaian highlife musician.
• Patrick Divine is an actor, known for Francis Bacon: A Brush with Violence (2017), and Angry, White and American. Numerous other people with the last name Divine are professionals across different disciplines.

Other surnames

Divin