| ![Show Contents]() Dane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of DaneWhat does the name Dane mean? The ancestors of the bearers of the Dane family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in or near a valley having derived from the word denu or dene, which meant valley. Early Origins of the Dane familyThe surname Dane was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat from very early times. Early History of the Dane familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dane research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1327, 1568, 1615, 1636 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Dane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Dane Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Dane include Dane, Danes and others. Early Notables of the Dane familyNotables of the family at this time include - Francis Dane (1615-1697), English sizar at King's College, Cambridge who emigrated to Massachusetts with his parents in 1636...
Dane RankingIn the United States, the name Dane is the 12,075th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Dane family to IrelandSome of the Dane family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Dane migration to the United States | + |
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dane or a variant listed above:
Dane Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Thomas and William Dane also migrated to the same area in 1635
- Yoragh Dane, who settled in Virginia in 1635
- Mr. Thomas Dane, (b. 1603), aged 32, British carpenter travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 2
- John Dane who migrated from Essex, England, to Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1636
- Eustace Dane, who settled in Virginia in 1652
| Dane migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Dane Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. Daniel Dane U.E. who settled in Charlotee County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 3
- Mr. Luther Dane U.E., "Dana" who settled in Charlotee County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 3
| Dane migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Dane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- John Dane, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
| Dane migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Dane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- H. Dane, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
| Contemporary Notables of the name Dane (post 1700) | + |
- Jax Dane (1976-2024), ring name of Jeremy Dane Laymon, an American thirteen-time champion professional wrestler
- Barbara Jean Dane (1927-2024), born as Spillman, American folk, blues, and jazz singer
- Faith Dane (1923-2020), American actress, musician, artist, and perennial candidate for elected office in Washington, D.C
- Warrel Dane (1961-2017), American lead singer of the American power metal band Sanctuary
- Lloyd Dane (1925-2015), American NASCAR Grand National Series driver from Eldon, Missouri
- Dana Dane (b. 1965), stage name of Dana McLeese, an American hip hop recording artist
- Eric Dane (b. 1972), American actor, best known for his recurring role as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy
- Karl Dane (1886-1934), born Rasmus Karl Therkelsen Gottlieb, Danish-born, American comedian and actor known for his work in the silent film era
- Nathan Dane (1752-1835), American lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1785 through 1788
- Clemence Dane (1891-1965), pseudonym of Winifred Ashton, English novelist and playwright
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Dane family | + |
- Mr. Alan Fred Dane, British Leading Steward, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 4
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