Dove Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Dove last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Dove last name
Meaning of the Dove last name: dove, or dark. Dove is an English surname from Middle English dove, a nickname for a gentle person, and a Scottish form of Gaelic dubh, "black". It is found in northern England and Scotland. Rita Dove was Poet Laureate of the United States, and the river Dove crosses the Peak District. The last name is widespread.
Arms associated with the Dove name
Coats of arms associated with the Dove surname follow Scottish heraldry, where each blazon belongs to one bearer.
Get your full Dove family history
This is only a glimpse of the Dove story. The full Dove history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Dove coat of arms. Get the full Dove report.
Dove name FAQ
What does the Dove name mean?
Dove, or dark. Common variants include Dow, Duff.
Where does the Dove surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Dove coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Dove coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).