Surname Dove - Meaning and Origin

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S. Dove

Dove: What does the surname Dove mean?

The last name Dove is an English surname derived from the Old English word 'dova'. The word has various meanings, including 'peaceful bird', 'dove of peace' and 'pigeon'. It may have originally been a nickname, derived from an individual's character and habits, as the dove is often associated with gentleness, purity, and peace.

Today, people with the surname Dove are likely to be descended from English families with several branches located in Oxfordshire, Middlesex, and Wiltshire. The early origins of the name provide insight into the culture and history of England. The earliest record of the name Dove comes from 1219, when it appears in Latin documents as Dova. Through the ages, there have also been numerous variations in spelling, such as Dove, Dov, Doves, and Douve.

The Dove surname is thought to have been related to the dove-keepers guild, an organization of people that were responsible for the breeding, rearing, and sale of doves. In other cases, it may have been derived from occupations related to capturing, transporting, or selling doves. Whatever its source, the last name Dove has become a widely used family name over the years.

Dove: Where does the name Dove come from?

The last name Dove is believed to be of English origin and is currently common in countries with a strong British heritage like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. In the United States, Dove is the 739th most common last name out of 887,799 total last names, according to the US Census Bureau.

The name Dove has many variations and spelling variants such as Doove, duvé and the Dutch Deuve, Deuw, Devoe and Devo.

In Australia, Dove is a rather uncommon last name; it ranks at 5,808th out of more than 8 million family names. In New Zealand, the last name Dove is quite rare; it ranks at 8,459th in 2016.

In Canada, the last name Dove is considerably more common; it ranks at 1,810th in 2016, with 2,146 occurrences out of a total of approximately 13 million family names.

In England, it is a rather rare family name; out of the approximately 45,400 last names in the country, Dove ranked at 11,344th in 2016 - a low-to-medium commonality rating meaning that the name is used by a small number of people compared to the other last names.

Though it is not an incredibly common name today, the last name Dove still carries significant weight and is a part of many proud families who carry their familial origin proudly.

Variations of the surname Dove

The surname Dove is of English origin and is believed to be a topographical and habitational name. It is derived from the Old English word ‘dof’, indicating someone who lived near a small valley or hollow. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Duv, Dov, Dow, Douv, Duvv, and Dowe.

The surname Dove is well-established in England and can also be found in North America and Australia due to immigration from England. Additionally, it is also found among French-Canadians and French speakers from the U.S. and elsewhere due to French influence upon the English language.

In the U.S., the surnames Dov, Dow, Douv, and Dowe are all recorded; however, the spelling Dove is most popular. The northern midwest of the U.S. is the region with the largest population of people with the surname Dove, followed by the east coast states and southeast regions.

In Australia, the spelling Dove is most commonly recorded, however variants such as Douv are still found due to French-Canadian migrants in the mid-1800s. The Douv spelling was more common in rural regions of New South Wales.

In Ireland, variants of the surname Dove are more common than the spelling itself. These variant spellings include Dovey, Dawe and Dowey. Most of these are found in the counties of Cork, Donegal and Limerick.

In Scotland, the earliest recorded references of the surname Dove date back to the 16th century and variants include Duvie, Duve, Duvvie, Duv, and Duw. It is most commonly found in the central and eastern regions of Scotland.

Famous people with the name Dove

• Dove Cameron: American actress and singer.
• Suzy Dove: English singer.
• Dave Dove: American radio host.
• Chris Dove: American drag racer.
• Gary Dove: British actor.
• Mark Dove: American soccer player.
• David Dove: Australian Olympian swimmer.
• Jeffrey Dove: English actor.
• John Dove: American judge and attorney.
• Pat Dove: American Major League baseball player.
• Ollie Dove: American Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee.
• Eudora Welty: American Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
• Crispus Attucks: American Revolutionary War hero.
• Clifford Dove: American Christian evangelist.
• Robert Dove: English Seaman Medal recipient.
• Philip Dove: English Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
• William Dove: English Anglican bishop of Peterborough and Exeter.
• Karin Dove: New Zealand weightlifter.
• Cian Dove: Irish singer-songwriter.
• Bughra Dove: Turkish actor and comedian.

Other surnames

DovastonDoveastonDoverDovesonDovestonDovidatDovidenasDovinsonDovnarDovydenas