Duprey
A French surname likely referring to someone from stony or paved ground, or to a place with rocky terrain.
The #9,611 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 91,318 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is grouped with French forms such as Dupras, Duprat, Dupraz, and Dupray, and is explained as meaning "from stony ground" or "from a place made of stone or pavement." In this tradition, the prefix du- means "of the" or "from the," while the second element refers to rocky or paved ground. The exact form behind Duprey is not certain, but it clearly belongs to this French place-name family.
History
French surnames of this type are common in regions where people were identified by the landscape or by a specific homestead. The spelling Duprey appears as one of several related variants, alongside Duprey/Duprez-type forms that shifted over time under local pronunciation and record-keeping. The surname later spread beyond France, especially through migration to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
This surname sits in a little cluster of French names built on the same root, which is why it has several look-alike cousins with tiny spelling differences.
From the historical record
“Duperie, Dupërier. Voy. Piirier. Dupras, Duprat, Dupray, Du- praz, Duprey, Duprez. Un j-ré. Duperré, Duperrey, Duper- rieux. Du terrain pierreux, ou em- pierré, ou pavé (oil).”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)