Surname Dewar - Meaning and Origin

Dewar: What does the surname Dewar mean?

The surname Dewar is of Scottish origin and its meaning is predominantly associated with "guardian" or "custodian." The term actually comes from the Gaelic word "deòradh" that denotes a pilgrim, wanderer, or an envoy entrusted to safely keep religious relics or treasures. This entrusted emissary was known as a Dewar. It's believed that over time, these custodians started using Dewar as their surname. Historical records suggest that the Dewar family had custodianship of an ecclesiastical treasure, the relic of St. Fillan. Based on geographical distribution, the surname is commonly found in central Scotland, particularly in Perthshire. Furthermore, different branches of the Dewar family might have varying interpretations or origins of the surname. As with many surnames, migration and local dialects may have affected the spelling and pronunciation of Dewar over the years. Among its notable bearers are acclaimed individuals from various fields, prominently featuring in military history, arts and entertainment, and sciences. The Dewar's brand of Scotch whisky, famous worldwide, also carries this surname. In essence, the Dewar surname signifies a unique blend of historical reverence, cultural tenacity, and geographical affiliation.

Dewar: Where does the name Dewar come from?

The last name Dewar is of Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic term "deòradh" which means “exile” or “wanderer.” This was often given as a nickname to custodians of relics or holy objects in medieval times.

The Dewar family first originated from Perthshire, an ancient Scottish county, from where it eventually spread to different parts of Scotland and the world during the age of migration.

Today, the surname Dewar is relatively common throughout Scotland and in other parts of the UK. It is also found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to the movement and emigration of Scottish people to these countries in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The celebrated Dewar's whisky continues to make the Dewar name known worldwide. However, in terms of frequency, the last name Dewar occurs most often in Scotland, followed by England, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Dewar

The surname Dewar is of Scottish origin and is derived from the ancient Celtic personal name David, and the Gaelic word "deoradhan" meaning "pilgrim". There are many variants and spellings of this surname due to different factors such as regional dialects, translation and pronunciation over the centuries.

Some of the variants and spellings of the Dewar surname include Deoir, Deore, Deor, Dayre, Dewer, Dawar, Dawer, Duar, Deur and Dure.

There are also several Anglicised versions of Dewar, such as Dower, Dowar, Dowear, and De War.

Surnames that are likely of the same origin or share the root are Dewart, Dewhurst, Door, Dore, and Dever.

Many Scottish surnames have also been 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefixes added at some point in history, which extends the potential surnames that could be a variant of Dewar to include MacDewar, McDewar, McDeor, and McDure among others.

Keep in mind that variations in spelling can also be consequential to phonetic spelling by clerks, priests, or census takers who recorded the names as they heard them.

Famous people with the name Dewar

• Thomas Dewar: A Scottish whiskey distiller who turned his father's local brand, Dewar's, into an international sensation in the late 1800's.
• John Dewar: The founder of the Dewar's Scotch whisky brand, he is also the father of Thomas Dewar.
• Sir James Dewar: A British chemist and physicist who is best known for his invention of the Dewar flask.
• George Dewar: A Scottish golfer, who played in the early 20th century.
• Bobby Dewar: An International footballer from Scotland.
• Cynthia Dewar: An American author and theater director.
• Anita Dewar: A former field hockey player from New Zealand, who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Anna Dewar: A well-known Australian actress.
• Kenneth Dewar: A well-known historian and professor based in Canada.
• Stuart Dewar: A former professional footballer, who is from Scotland.
• Donald Dewar: A Scottish Politician who served as the inaugural First Minister of Scotland.
• Andy Dewar: A famous drummer in the New Zealand music scene.
• John Dewar Denniston: A significant figure in New Zealand's early literary history.
• Michael Dewar: A Jamaican sprinter who primarily competes in the 100m and 200m.
• Rob Dewar: The head of Bombardier Aerospace's C Series program.

Other surnames

DewaldDewaltDewart