This famous surname, one of the earliest ever recorded, is today regarded as being of Eastern European and Russian origins, but is more properly Ancient Greek. Although much associated with early Christian martyrs, it is in fact pagan, being a derivation of "Demetrios" and translating as "a follower of Demeter", the first goddess of fertility. Quite why the name should have been so popular in Eastern Europe, but to have made almost no penetration in the West in unclear. The usual source of biblical names everywhere were the early saints and martyrs, and this name is no exception.
However it has to be said that the St Demetri responsible for this name was so obscure, it is understood that he was martyrd in the 4th century a.d., that he rarely appears in the records of saints at all. With most surnames their overwhelming popularity resulted from the famous "crusades" of the 11th and 12th century. These were lead by successive generations of Christian monarchs. All failed in their self appointed task of "freeing" the Holy Land, and specifically Jerusalem, from the Saracens. Nethertheless the returning soldiers and pilgrims made it a point of honour to name their children after early religious, Hebrew, and biblical figures. There are over seventy spellings of this surname ranging from Dmitriev and Mitrovic, to Domotor and Mityagin. The first known recording of the surname is probably that of Lyubava Dmitrievna, in the charters of the city of Novograd, Russia, in the year 1100.
Research into the possible origins of dimitriou leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname dimitriou, and in addition to the original locations of dimitriou, we can find out where people with the surname dimitriou can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of dimitriou.
There is a considerable probability that dimitriou has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where dimitriou is most abundant are the following. The mobility of people carrying the surname dimitriou has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named dimitriou are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname dimitriou are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname dimitriou.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of dimitriou could be modified. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname dimitriou or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of dimitriou.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname dimitriou, even though not all have been documented to our present day. A surname like dimitriou can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname dimitriou, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname dimitriou who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname dimitriou, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname dimitriou, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of dimitriou.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of dimitriou, and at the same time, of surnames in general.