Dennis
A surname that usually comes from the given name Denis, originally tied to St. Denis, France’s patron saint.
The #409 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,934 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Dennis is generally a surname formed from the personal name Denis, which came into English through Old French. The deeper source is Greek Dionysios, meaning “of Dionysus,” the name of the Greek god of wine and festivity. In medieval England, the name was strongly associated with St. Denis, the popular French saint and patron saint of France.
History
The surname appears in medieval English records in forms such as de Denis and other spelling variants, showing use as a hereditary surname from an early date. It spread through England especially where the given name Denis was common, and later developed related surnames such as Dennison and Dennett. Some older writers also suggested an alternative origin from an Old English word meaning “Danish,” but the baptismal-name explanation is usually preferred.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because St. Denis was so widely venerated in medieval France, Dennis is one of several English surnames that ultimately owe their popularity to a saint’s name rather than a place or occupation.
From the historical record
“DENNINGTON. A parish in Suffolk. DENNIS. DENIS. A baptismal name : the patron saint of France. Sometimes, however, as Ferguson observes, it may be from the A.-Sax. Denisca, Danish, and this is confirmed by the Le Deneys of the H.R. DENNISTOUN. The Dennistouns « of that Ilk," have an extraordinary way of accounting…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom