DEFOE

Recorded variant spellings include De Foe, de Foe

Defoe

Defoe is a British surname of French origin, derived from the Old French word "d'Uffoue", meaning "of Uffoue." The name is believed to have been brought to England by Huguenot immigrants in the late 17th century.

The most famous bearer of the Defoe surname is the renowned English writer Daniel Defoe (1660-1731). Daniel Defoe is best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe", published in 1719, which is considered one of the earliest English novels and a classic of English literature.

The Defoe surname has become synonymous with creativity, literary excellence, and storytelling. Over the centuries, various individuals with the Defoe surname have made significant contributions to the fields of literature, journalism, and the arts.

Today, the Defoe surname is relatively rare but continues to be associated with a literary legacy that has left an indelible mark on British culture and beyond.

Typical given names associated with the Defoe surname

Male

  • Albert
  • Cory
  • Daniel
  • Jermain
  • John
  • Lucas
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Oliver
  • Patrick
  • Paul
  • Simon
  • William

Female

  • Ann
  • Ayesha
  • Caroline
  • Catherine
  • Emma
  • Faye
  • Jacqueline
  • Janet
  • Margaret
  • Nicola
  • Samantha
  • Sharon
  • Susan
  • Suzanne

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Defoe in...

Braille

Morse

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Semaphore

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There are approximately 306 people named Defoe in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Defoe.

Region of origin: Europe

The Genealogist - UK census, BMDs and more online

Famous people named Defoe

  • Daniel Defoe - Trader, writer and journalist (1660 to 1731)
  • Jermain Defoe - Football player
  • Gideon Defoe - Writer
  • Darius Defoe - British Basketball Player

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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