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Dare History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Dare History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Dare come from its first bearer, who was a person who acted like an animal as the name was originally derived from the word deor, which meant "wild animal." In the Middle Ages, nicknames often described strong traits or features of animals. In the pre-Christian era, many pagan gods and demigods were believed to be a mixture of animals and humans, such as the Greek god Pan who was the god of flocks and herds and was represented as a man with the legs, horns and ears of a goat. In the Middle Ages, anthropomorphic ideas, which attributed human qualities and form to gods or animals. They were based on the creature's habits. Moreover, these associations were reflected in folk tales, mythology, and legends which portrayed animals behaving as humans.

Early Origins of the Dare family

The surname Dare was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Dare family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dare research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dare History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dare Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Dare has been spelled many different ways, including Dare, Dair and others.

Early Notables of the Dare family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Richard Dare of Essex

Dare Ranking

In the United States, the name Dare is the 12,655^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Dare is ranked the 9,505^th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Dare family to Ireland

Some of the Dare 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.

Dare migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Dares to arrive in North America:

Dare Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Virginia Dare (1587-) was the first child of English parents born in America

Dare Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Dare, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 3
Michael Dare who settled in Virginia in 1663
Margaret Dare, who landed in Maryland in 1673 3
Ann Dare, who landed in Maryland in 1674 3
William Dare, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 3

Dare Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Dare, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 3

Dare Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Dare, who arrived in New York in 1820
Eleanor Dare, who landed in Virginia in 1887 3
Ananias Dare, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 3
Vicente Dare, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1896 3

Dare migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dare Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Dare, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
George Dare, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 5
Mary Ann Dare, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 5
William Dare, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 5
Robert Dare, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1846 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dare (post 1700) +

Leona Dare (1854-1922), stage name of Susan Adeline Stuart, American trapeze artist and aerial acrobat, billed as the "Queen of the Antilles" and the "Pride of Madrid"
Dorothy Dare (1911-1981), American film actress and singer
Johnny Dare, American radio personality
Danny Dare (1905-1996), American choreographer, actor, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film
John T. Dare, American Republican politician, Member of California State Assembly 19th District, 1877-80; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1892 7
Farley A. Dare (b. 1879), American Republican politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 52nd District, 1915-18; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1916 7
Virginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child of English parents born in America; she disappeared with other members of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island in Virginia, a US postage stamp was issued in 1937, the 350th anniversary of Virginia Dare's birth
Bill Dare, English producer and devisor of radio and television comedy programmes
Zena Dare (1887-1975), English singer and actress
Billy Dare (1927-1994), English footballer
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dare family +

USS Arizona

Mr. James A. Dare, American Ensign working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 8

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL ADMIRAL 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838RoyalAdmiral.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COMPETITOR 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Competitor.gif
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html