Surname Demaree - Meaning and Origin

Demaree: What does the surname Demaree mean?

The surname Demaree is believed to have derived from the northern French location of Maignelay, in the Picardy region. Throughout the Middle Ages, the region saw much conflict between the neighboring French and Spanish, leading to many of its inhabitants scattered and dispersed by the wars of the era. In these circumstances, many individuals adopted a surname based upon the region that they originally hailed from, and so the name Demaree was born.

The name Demaree has a wide variety of possible meanings, with the most widely accepted of these being ‘from Maignelay’ or ‘from the meadows’. The term ‘from the meadows’ is plausible due to the fact that the Picardy region was an idyllic agricultural area, with its annual blooming landscapes springing with a diverse array of flowers. Such a name is therefore thought to have been adopted by those of an agricultural background, who called the local meadows their home.

The Demaree family, having taken on the name hopeful of future generations continuing to reside in the region, proceeded to take up residence and positions within the local French administrative and nobility, where the name became increasingly well-known and recognisable. Throughout the Middle Ages, families of this name went on to achieve many great successes, and can be found in history records as far back as the 13th century.

Those with the family name of Demaree can be proud of their heritage, as it is a symbol of excellence, nobility, and resilience during the turbulent political, social, and economic times of the Middle Ages.

Demaree: Where does the name Demaree come from?

The last name Demaree is most commonly found in the United States and Canada, where it is particularly prevalent among families of Dutch origin. The surname comes from the Old Dutch name “demar” which means “from the moor”, suggesting that the original Demarees were from an area of wetland or marsh. The Demaree surname is now distributed across the United States, but is particularly common in several Midwest states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. There is also a concentration of Demarees in California, as well as in the southern states of Georgia and Tennessee.

The Demaree family can trace its roots to three distinct branches. One branch came to New Amsterdam from Holland in the late 1600s. A second branch arrived in Pennsylvania with German ancestors in the mid-1700s, and the third branch hails from South Carolina and dates back to the Revolutionary War.

The surname first appeared in the US Census of 1790, and census records indicate that most Demarees resided in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Today, Demaree is among the most commonly reported Dutch surnames in the United States, and many Americans can trace their lineage to this one surname.

Variations of the surname Demaree

The surname Demaree has a few variants, spellings, and surnames which are all of the same origin.

The most common variant is Demare, which is a form of the surname that has been used throughout Europe, especially in France. Similar to Demare, Demarell is another form of the surname and can be found mainly in the United Kingdom.

In the United States, the spelling of Demaree is commonly used. This is a variant of the surname which was brought over to the US by immigrants from Europe, particularly the British Isles. Other spellings of Demaree that can be found in the United States include Demerey, Demari, and Demarai.

Other surnames that are related to Demaree are Marais, which originates from France, and DeMaree, which is a variation of Demaree with the addition of a De prefix. All of these surnames are derived from the word demare, which is derived from the Old French word demare ‘in the field’. The meaning of the original surname was ‘of the field’ or ‘from the field’.

Finally, a few other spelling variants exist to be aware of when researching Demaree. These are Demare, Demarell, and Demarey, as well as other variations such as Demaray, Demarais, DeMaray, and DeMaris. All of these spellings are closely related in terms of origin and meaning of the surname.

Famous people with the name Demaree

• Dave Demaree: Dave Demaree is an American basketball coach, most recently at troubled Kayhi High in Ketchikan, Alaska.
• Christopher Demaree: Christopher Demaree is an American photographer and author mainly specializing in food photography for cookbooks and packaging.
• Brian Demaree: Brian Demaree is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for St Patrick's Athletic.
• Ken Demaree: Ken Demaree was an American football player who played college football at Purdue University and was a member of the 1929 Rose Bowl championship team.
• Zach Demaree: Zach Demaree is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer from Nashville, Tennessee.
• Scott Demaree: Scott Demaree is an American auto racing driver who competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
• Davey Demaree: Davey Demaree, born David Roe Demaree, was a Major League Baseball player and manager from Jamestown, Indiana.
• Elizabeth Demaree: Elizabeth Demaree is an American’s Cup sailor who has sailed with both the San Diego Yacht Club in 1992 and 1995 and on AmericaOne during the 2001 and 2003 Cups.
• Jimmy Demaree: Jimmy Demaree was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1916 to 1918.
• Clarence Demaree: Clarence Demaree was a Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1921.

Other surnames

DemareDemarestDemaristDeMartini