Surname Dun - Meaning and Origin
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Dun: What does the surname Dun mean?
The surname Dun is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English "dunn," which means "dark-colored" or "brown." It was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. The name also has topographic roots, linked to the Gaelic term "dun," signifying a fort or hill, indicating that the original bearer of the name might have lived near such a landmark. The surname Dun is widespread in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Different variations of the surname exist, including Dunn, Dunne, and Dunning, among others. It is important to note that the interpretation of surnames is influenced by the cultural, regional, and historical contexts in which they were adopted, thus they might have different interpretations across cultures and regions.
Order DNA origin analysisDun: Where does the name Dun come from?
The surname Dun is of Scottish and Irish origin, where it means "brown" or "dark-colored" in Gaelic. Alternatively, in some regions, it was used to indicate a person who lived near a hill or fortress, as 'dun' also means "hill" or "fortress" in Gaelic. The name is prevalent in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute, Fife, and Perth and Kinross.
In Ireland, the surname originated in County Meath, where it was originally O'Dunne, denoting 'descendant of Donn'. The O'Dunnes were a significant sept (family group), belonging to the royal bloodline of Leinster.
The Dun surname has since spread worldwide with concentrations in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, and New Zealand. Its American presence began primarily in the 18-century during the era of the Great Migration, which saw many Scots and Irish leaving their homelands for new opportunities in North America and other British territories. Variations of the name include Dunn, Donne, Dunne, and O'Dunne. The variant spelling Dunn is more widespread in the U.S than Dun.
Variations of the surname Dun
The surname Dun originated from Scotland and has various spellings and variants. Some of these include Dunn, Dune, Dunne, Dunna, and Duyn. The surname can also be found occasionally with Mac prefix meaning "son of", as MacDunn or MacDunne. It is also found in a combined form with other words like Dunham, Dunbar, and Dunlap. Variations may differ due to regional dialects and phonetics.
In addition, the surname morphed into different forms in different countries. In Germany, it is written as Dünn. In Sweden, it is spelt as Duhn, while in the Netherlands it appears as Dunne.
Surnames that may share the same origin with Dun are divided into two categories depending on the etymology. The ones derived from the Old English "dunn", meaning dark-colored, are Donne, Done, Dune, and Downes. The others, originating from the Gaelic "donn" with a similar meaning, include Don, Donne, and Doone.
Notably, every variant or spelling might not be directly related due to separate developments or coincidences in naming, so genealogical verification is recommended for certainty.
Famous people with the name Dun
- Josh Dun: An American musician and the drummer for the popular band "Twenty One Pilots."
- Eleanor Dun: An English actress known for her role in 'School For Seduction.'
- Hoyt Dun: A noted American screen writer and film director
- Joe Dun: A well known American congressional candidate from the Democratic party.
- Star Dun: An actress famous for her role in 'Beautified.'
- Terence Trent D'Arby (born Terence Trent Howard, and now legally changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya): He was popular in the late 1980s and known for his hit songs "Wishing Well" and "Sign Your Name". His stepfather’s surname was Darby.
- Sara Hillary Dun, otherwise known simply as Hillary Dun, is an emerging actress from South Carolina. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the short drama movie ‘Bone to Pick’, the drama ‘Her Calling’ and Avery, a short film.
- Marsha Gay Dun: An American actress known well for her parts in The Innocent (2018) and Cold Feet (1997).
- Don Dun: Known for Little Obie's Christmas Adventure (2003).