Contents [hide]

Dana History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Dana History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy
Ireland

The present generation of the Dana family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the valley or the dann. The surname often meant the dweller in the valley. 1

Alternatively the name could have been "derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Daniel,' from nickname Dan. " 2

Early Origins of the Dana family

The surname Dana was first found in Sussex where Geoffrey atte Danne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Later in Sussex, Simon Dann was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 1

Early History of the Dana family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dana research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Dana History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dana Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Dana include Dan, Dann, Danne, Dans, Danns, Dannes and others.

Early Notables of the Dana family

More information is included under the topic Early Dana Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dana Ranking

In the United States, the name Dana is the 7,161^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Dana family to Ireland

Some of the Dana family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dana migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Dana were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Dana Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Alonso Dana, who settled in Peru in 1598

Dana Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Dana, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1655 4

Dana Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sally Dana, who arrived in New York in 1807 4
John Dana, who landed in New York in 1807 4
Abraham Dana, who arrived in New York in 1807 4
Dolly Dana, who landed in New York in 1807 4
Patrick Dana, aged 22, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1822 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dana Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna Dana, who settled in Galveston, TX in 1906

Contemporary Notables of the name Dana (post 1700) +

Robert Dana (1929-2010), American poet, recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships (1985 and 1993)
Samuel Whittlesey Dana (1760-1830), American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Connecticut (1810-1821)
Vic Dana (b. 1942), American dancer and singer discovered by Sammy Davis, Jr
Richard Dana (1700-1772), American lawyer and politician in colonial Massachusetts, founding member of the Sons of Liberty
Richard Henry Dana III (1851-1931), American lawyer and civil service reformer
Charles Root Dana (1802-1868), American Mormon leader, pioneer, and missionary
Paul Dana (1975-2006), American race car driver who died in a car crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Viola Dana (1897-1987), American silent film actress who appeared in 108 titles and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Charles A. Dana (1881-1975), American businessman, politician and philanthropist, founder of the Dana Corporation in 1904 and the Dana Foundation in 1950
Bill Dana (b. 1924), American comedian, actor, and screenwriter perhaps best known as the heavily-accented Mexican character named José Jiménez on the Ed Sullivan Show
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)