DUNBAR
The surname Dunbar is of Scottish origin and is a classic example of a locational name derived from the place of the same spelling in East Lothian. The topographical designation was first recorded in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and the name is closely associated with the Barony of Dunbar in the county of Berwick, which was the cradle of the family’s prominence in medieval Scotland.
In terms of etymology the name is believed to have arisen from the Gaelic words dun meaning “fort” and barr meaning “top” or “summit”. Consequently, the surname can be interpreted to mean “fort on the summit” or “fortress on the hill”, and was probably borne by individuals who lived near or were otherwise connected with the fortress at Dunbar.
The earliest surviving record of the family name is that of John de Dunbar, dated 1266 and found in a charter of the Hospital of Soltre at the time of King Alexander III of Scotland, who reigned from 1249 to 1286. Although earlier references may have existed, the name in its recognisable form does not appear before the thirteenth century, and the subsequent proliferation of the surname coincided with the growth of the Dunbar clan’s influence across the Scottish borders.
During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the Dunbars held extensive estates in Wigtownshire, and they were frequently mentioned in records of the Border clans that caused considerable turmoil in northern England and in the more gentle parts of Scotland. Their holdings during the fifteenth century also extended into Caithness, a move that may have been undertaken by choice or as a consequence of exile; the evidence remains uncertain. Notable events recorded in that era include the capture of James Dunbar at Knaresborough in Yorkshire in 1425, and the granting of safe conduct to another James Dunbar in 1451.
The surname has been documented under a number of alternative spellings over the centuries. The 1625 registers list a Dumbar, the 1666 registers contain a Dumbare, and the 1692 registers record a Dounbare. These variations illustrate the natural evolution of spelling in an era before standardised orthography.
The coat of arms traditionally associated with the Dunbar family is described in heraldic blazon by a white lion rampant on a red field, surrounded by a white bordure, a semee of red roses, with a crest consisting of a horse's head. This blazon is attested in several contemporary heraldic rolls and provides a visual symbol of the family's medieval stature.
In modern times, the surname remains most common in Scotland, particularly in the regions of East Lothian and the Scottish Borders, where the historic lands of the Dunbars once lay. Diaspora communities, notably in England, the United States and Australia, also bear the name, reflecting the broader pattern of emigration that characterised the Scottish experience from the eighteenth century onwards. The surname continues to be recognised for its strong connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
Typical given names associated with the Dunbar surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Amanda
- Carol
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
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 Dunbar in...
Braille
⠙⠥⠝⠃⠁⠗
Morse
-....--.-....-.-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 6,928 people named Dunbar in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,362nd most common surname in Britain. Around 106 in a million people in Britain are named Dunbar.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Dunbar
- Aynsley Dunbar - Musician
- Adrian Dunbar - Northern Irish actor
- Robin Dunbar - Academic
- Andrea Dunbar - Playwright (1961 to 1990)
- Karen Dunbar - Actress
- Evelyn Dunbar - War artist (1906 to 1960)
- Alex Dunbar - Scottish rugby union player
- Alan Dunbar - Amateur golfer
- Rudolph Dunbar - American conductor (1907 to 1988)
- Ian Dunbar - Veterinarian, author and dog trainer
- Moira Dunbar - Scottish-Canadian glaciologist and Arctic ice researcher (1918 to 1999)
- Mark Dunbar - Wrestler
- Joyce Dunbar - Children's writer
- Tom Dunbar - Football player (1868 to 1908)
- Jon Dunbar - Scottish rugby union player
- Michael Dunbar - Scottish football player (1863 to 1921)
- Robert Nugent Dunbar - Poet (1798 to 1866)
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.