Surname Dullard - Meaning and Origin

Dullard: What does the surname Dullard mean?

The last name Dullard is of Anglo-Norman ancestry and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "dol," which means "dull." The name is most likely a nickname or byname for someone who was considered to be slow, awkward, or stupid, likely due to their physical attributes or behavior. It is possible that the given name was borne by someone who was challenged physically or mentally, or someone whose occupations were comparative menial tasks.

Throughout the centuries, it is reasonable to assume that the Dullard family developed a unique heritage. The modern usage of the name makes it difficult to accurately consider its deeper meaning, as it has become a term of endearment or used on a purely whimsical basis, although its origins are historically accurate.

With that said, Dullard can today be used to describe a slightly clumsy or dumb individual, however, it can also be used in a fond, more sympathetic manner. This manner of usage implies that a person has some qualities that could be deemed clumsy or weird and that these qualities can be endearing. It does not have such a negative or derogatory meaning as its original usage did.

Dullard: Where does the name Dullard come from?

The last name Dullard is most commonly found in countries of the British Isles, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scotland. In the United Kingdom, Dullard is mainly concentrated in Devon and Cornwall, with a large number of residents in the Dorset and Somerset regions. In Ireland, it is mainly concentrated in the historic province of Ulster, and in Scotland, it is most common in the counties of Angus and Aberdeenshire.

The last name is less common in other parts of the world. However, there are some scattered instances of the name in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries with significant numbers of British immigrants.

In the United States, the last name Dullard is found mainly in Pennsylvania and Ohio. A search of the U.S. Census Bureau reveals scattered instances of the name in other states, but Pennsylvania and Ohio are the two with the largest populations of Dullards.

The last name Dullard is fairly uncommon wherever it is found. In the United Kingdom, fewer than one thousand people are known to bear the name. Many states in the United States have fewer than 10 people bearing the last name. While there is no precise data, it is likely that worldwide, the last name Dullard is rare to uncommon.

Variations of the surname Dullard

The surname Dullard can be spelled in a variety of different ways. It can be spelled as Dullard, Doolard, Doolard, Dullardt, Doolardt, Doollard, Doollardt, Drewlard, and Drewlardt.

The most likely origin of the surname Dullard comes from the French word meaning “a clumsy or ungraceful person.” This is because the “lard” or “llard” in the name suggests a variation on an older French word “lard” or “llard”, which was a nickname for an awkward, clumsy or ungraceful person.

Variations of the Dullard surname may also be found in countries such as the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. In the United States, the variations may be spelled as Dullard, Dullardt and Doollard. In Ireland, it is spelled as Doolard. In Scotland, as Doollardt or Doolardt. In Wales, as Dwyllard. In England, as Dullard or Drewlard.

In many parts of the world, the Dullard surname is also found in combination with other family names, such as in Canada where it is spelled Dullingard, or in Australia, where it is spelled Dullardly.

The spelling Dullard is very rare. This is because the original French word was typically spelled with two Ls. Therefore, most people with the Dullard surname are likely to have some form of the variation.

Famous people with the name Dullard

• Brian Dullard: Irish footballer and coach who has managed squads throughout the League of Ireland and U.S. Soccer.
• James Dullard: Irish lawyer who represented the interests of Iarnród Éireann in their court case against Admonchem, a company that supplied gas-fired hot water boilers.
• Dara Dullard: English comedian, writer, director, and actor, who has performed standup comedy and starred in various BBC TV shows.
• Harry Dullard: Actor who was in a number of British dramas from the 1960s to 1984, including Harry & the Wrinkles, Father Dear Father, and Sherlock Holmes.
• Elizabeth Dullard: American actress best known for her roles in The Divine Zero and Rhinestone Cowboy.
• David Dullard: Australian biochemist who has written, edited, or been featured in over seventy-five scientific articles and books.
• Ernie Dullard: English footballer who made over seventy appearances for Tooting & Mitcham United Football Club between 1957 and 1966.
• Bob Dullard: Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent seven seasons playing in the World Hockey Association and NHL.
• Bradley Dullard: English film and television actor who has appeared on Shameless, Misfits, and Doctor Who.
• Cal Dullard: American DJ and music producer from Nashville, Tennessee, who has released tracks on Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services.

Other surnames

DullaghanDullahuntyDullanieDullany