Daniel Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Daniel last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Daniel last name
Meaning of the Daniel last name: a personal name meaning God is my judge. Daniel has documented English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish surname traditions, among others. Its Biblical personal-name source means “God is my judge” in Hebrew. An Irish Daniel may instead represent McDaniel, connected with McDonnell; those families should not automatically receive the Biblical explanation.
Arms associated with the Daniel name
Sharing a surname establishes no coat of arms entitlement; heraldry follows documented individual lineages.
Get your full Daniel family history
This is only a glimpse of the Daniel story. The full Daniel history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Daniel coat of arms. Get the full Daniel report.
Daniel name FAQ
What does the Daniel name mean?
A personal name meaning God is my judge.
Where does the Daniel surname come from?
It originates in Portugal, and is also found in the United States and Germany.
Is there a Daniel coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Daniel coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Geneanet surname dictionary etymologies; Surnam.es surname distribution.