Dunlap
What is the origin of the last name Dunlap?
Meaning and origin
The last name Dunlap has its origin in Scotland, specifically from the Gaelic language. The name derives from the place name "Dunlop," which means "hilltop." It is derived from the Gaelic words "dun," referring to a hill or fortification, and "lub," meaning a bend or curve. Over the centuries, the name evolved and eventually became Dunlap, as it is known today.
The longer story
The last name Dunlap has a Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic word "dun" which means fortress or hill. The name Dunlap is classified as a locational surname, indicating that it originated from a specific place.
The name Dunlap can be traced back to the ancient Clan MacGhille na Brathan who lived in the region of Strathclyde, which is now part of modern-day Scotland. The Strathclyde Britons, a Celtic tribe, inhabited this area in the early medieval period.
The surname Dunlap is primarily associated with Scottish and Irish ancestry. It is more commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the southern regions. However, it is also prevalent among Scottish and Irish diasporas in North America, particularly in the United States.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#890
Dunlap was the 890th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 39,063 people, about 13 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Dunlap
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Dunlap is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.