Surname Dummer - Meaning and Origin
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Dummer: What does the surname Dummer mean?
The last name Dummer is an English habitational surname derived from either of two places located in the county of Hampshire, England. The first is the village of Dummer, which was recorded as "Dumer" in the 11th century. The second is the area of Dummer Down, in the parish of Kingsclere. It is likely that the name originated as "Dunmere", which likely refers to a "marsh frequented by doves".
The surname Dummer is also a topographical name, derived from Old English words "dun" (hill) and "mere" (marsh). The English word munor was also used in some documents to refer to a "hill covered in marshy land", making it possible that the two spellings might have converged at some point and the name became fixed as Dummer.
The surname Dummer is associated with several prominent individuals throughout history, from German chemist Johann Jakob Dummer, to British politician Charles Dummer. It is also seen in modern times, with celebrities like director, producer, writer, and actor Bruce William Joseph Dummer.
It is likely that the name Dummer has been carried on for many generations and its original meaning has been lost to time. However, it is still a popular family name and continues to allude to a strong connection with England.
Order DNA origin analysisDummer: Where does the name Dummer come from?
The last name Dummer is thought to be of German origin and is most common in Germany and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland. It is also found in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Lithuania. It is also found in countries of European settlement such as the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States, but in lesser numbers than in Germany.
The literal translation of the name gives some insight into its origin. In old German, ‘dumm’ means dumb, or not very smart, and ‘er’ is a suffix meaning similar to ‘one who’, or ‘person’. So, as a surname, Dummer literally means ‘a person not very smart’. It is unlikely that this term was adopted as a surname out of admiration for a low IQ. Instead, it evolved when people started taking on visual descriptions of their physical characteristics or occupations as their surname. In this case, it was likely taken on by a family with a more than average number of physical or mental characteristics that are associated with being ‘dumb’.
The surname Dummer is still common in Germany but its population is spread over many different regions and countries. It is still very common in Germany but is much rarer in most other countries, particularly in the countries of European settlement. Despite this, it can still be found across the world, from the United States to Australia and many other places in between.
Variations of the surname Dummer
The surname Dummer is of German origin, and can have many variants and spellings in both English and German. Some of these may be more commonly used than others, or in certain regions. The most common variants for the surname Dummer are Dumer, Dummere, Dumme, Dumers, Dumere, and Dumars. These are all different spellings for the same word, although Dumer, Dumme, and Dumers are perhaps the most frequently encountered.
In addition to these variants, the surname Dummer can be found spelled in several regional versions. In German, it can be spelled Dumr, Dummerr, or Dummar. In the Netherlands, it can appear as Dommer, Dommers, or Domers. In America, it has been spelled dumbere, dampure, and dummee.
Other variations of the name can also exist in the form of surname changes. Depending on where a person immigrated, they may have changed their name to a simpler form due to language differences. Some examples of this are Dumbar, Diment, Dumar, Dumbrill, Kummer, and Dumbley.
Overall, the surname Dummer is a relatively common one, and it is easy to recognize in its various forms. It will likely continue to be seen in different variations as people move from one region to another, making it an ever-evolving surname.
Famous people with the name Dummer
- John Dummer: an English blues musician
- Marshall 'Major' General Thomas Dummer: a British Army officer
- Eberhard Louis Dummer: a German literary historian
- Michael Dummer: an English actor
- George Frederic Dummer: an 18th-century English engraver
- Maynard Dummer: an American-born Canadian politician
- Marie Elizabeth Dummer: an English diarist
- George Dummer: an 18th-century American silversmith
- Ivor Dummer: a British civil engineer
- Albert Dummer: a German sculptor
- Anthony Dummer: a British Antarctic explorer
- Alfred Dummer: a British World War I soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
- Frances Simmons Dummer: a 19th-century American artist
- Catherine Dummer: a 19th-century English photographer
- Henry V. Dummer: a 19th-century Canadian engineer
- Henry G. Dummer: a 19th-century English MP
- Lloyd A. Dummer: a 20th-century Canadian aviator
- Chris Dummer: an English comic artist
- Tobias George Dummer: a 19th-century English translator
- Thomas B. Dummer: an American politician