Dominic (English)

Where does "Dominic" come from?

The name Dominic originates from the Late Latin word 'Dominicus', which itself is derived from 'Dominus', meaning 'Lord'. It was traditionally given to children born on a Sunday, the 'Lord's Day', and gained significant popularity through Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order.

Full etymology tree

• Dominic (English), 'A male given name from Latin, best known for the Spanish saint who founded the Dominican order.'
  • inherited Dominicus (Latin), 'a male given name'
    • compound dominicus (Latin), 'of or belonging to a lord or master'
      • derived dominus (Latin), 'master, possessor, ruler, lord, proprietor'
        • inherited *dom-o/u-nos (Proto-Italic)
        • inherited *domanos (Proto-Italic), 'master'
          • inherited *domHnos (Proto-Indo-European)
            • compound *dṓm (Proto-Indo-European), 'home'
        • inherited *domos (Proto-Italic), 'house, home'
          • inherited *dem- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to build (up)'
    • compound -icus (Latin), 'of or pertaining to; belonging to; derived from; connected with: -ic, -ish'
      • derived dominus (Latin), 'master, possessor, ruler, lord, proprietor'
        • inherited *dom-o/u-nos (Proto-Italic)
        • inherited *domanos (Proto-Italic), 'master'
          • inherited *domHnos (Proto-Indo-European)
            • compound *dṓm (Proto-Indo-European), 'home'
        • inherited *domos (Proto-Italic), 'house, home'
          • inherited *dem- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to build (up)'

Direct ancestors

• Dominicus (Latin)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris