Show ContentsDull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dull family

The surname Dull was first found in Germany, where the name Dollard came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.

Early History of the Dull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dull research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1506, 1509, 1513, 1636 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Dull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dull Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dollard, Dillard, Dolard, Dilard, Dollards, Dillards, Dullaert, Dollardt, Dillardt, Dollart and many more.

Early Notables of the Dull family

Notables of the time with the name Dull included

  • Jan Dullaert of Ghent (c. 1480-1513), Latinized as Ioannis Dullardi, a Flemish philosopher and logician who lived in France as an Augustinian friar. He elucidated principles of propositional logic in...

Dull Ranking

In the United States, the name Dull is the 7,912nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Dull migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dull Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jahan Nickell Dull, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 2
  • Joh Michel Dull, who landed in New York, NY in 1764 2
  • Frederick Dull, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
  • Christian Dull, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 2
Dull Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Dull, who arrived in Clearfield Co. Pennsylvania in 1834
  • Adam Dull, who landed in Indiana in 1852 2
  • Andrew Dull, who arrived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2
  • Valentine Dull, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 2

Canada Dull migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dull Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Conrad Dull, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1751

Contemporary Notables of the name Dull (post 1700) +

  • Richard Dull (b. 1945), American former athletic director and athlete, Athletic Director of the University of Maryland from 1981 to 1986
  • James "Jim" Edward Dull (1928-2009), American academic, Dean of Students of Georgia Institute of Technology (1964-1991)
  • Ryan Dull (b. 1989), American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics (2015-)
  • Orville O. Dull (1888-1978), American Academy Award winning producer, director, production manager and assistant director who worked on over 40 films from 1925 to 1951
  • Jack Dull (1930-1995), American scholar of the history of Han China, professor at the University of Washington
  • John Dull, American folk music artist and folk music promoter


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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