Dean

See also: dean, déan, deán, and dèan

English

Etymology

The surname or given name is of multiple origins, depending on context:

• As an English surname, from Middle English dene (“valley”).
• Also as an English surname, from the noun dean. Cognate to Deacon.
• Also as an English surname, from the personal name Deyne, a rhyming form of Reynald (see Reginald).
• As an Irish surname, variant of Deane.
• As a Scottish surname, from Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, itself from the noun meaning valley.
• Old English Dene (“Dane, Norseman”)
• Hebrew דין (“law, judgment”) and Arabic دين (“way of life, creed”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /diːn/
• Rhymes: -iːn
• Homophone: dean

Proper noun

Dean (countable and uncountable, plural Deans)

1. A title afforded to a dean.
2. (countable) A habitational surname from Middle English from Middle English dene “valley”.
3. (countable) A male given name transferred from the surname or originating as an occupation derived from the title.
4. A placename:
   1. Any of various villages and hamlets in England:
      1. A village and civil parish in Cumberland, Cumbria, previously in Allerdale borough (OS grid ref NY0725).
      2. A hamlet in Lynton and Lynmouth parish, North Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SS7048).
      3. A hamlet in Trentishoe parish, North Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SS6245).
      4. A hamlet in West Down parish, North Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SS5042).
      5. A hamlet in Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge parish, east Dorset (OS grid ref ST9715).
      6. A hamlet in Bishop's Waltham parish, Winchester district, Hampshire (OS grid ref SU5619).
      7. A hamlet in Sparsholt parish, Winchester district, Hampshire (OS grid ref SU4431).
      8. A locality between Water and Weir, Rossendale borough, Lancashire (OS grid ref SD8525).
      9. A hamlet in Spelsbury parish, West Oxfordshire district, Oxfordshire (OS grid ref SP3422).
      10. A hamlet in Cranmore parish, Mendip district, Somerset (OS grid ref ST6744).
   2. Synonym of Dean Village, Edinburgh, Scotland.
   3. A small township in the Shire of Hepburn, central Victoria, Australia.
   4. A small community in the Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada.
   5. A number of places in the United States:
      1. An unincorporated community in Monterey County, California.
      2. An unincorporated community in Appanoose County, Iowa.
      3. A ghost town in Lander County, Nevada.
      4. A township and village therein, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
      5. A minor city in Clay County, Texas.

Derived terms

• Dean and Shelton
• East Dean
• Forest of Dean
• Wendover Dean
• West Dean, Westdean

Related terms

• Dane
• Deane

Anagrams

• Aden, Dane, Dena, Edna, Enda, Nead, aden-, ande, eDNA, nade