Defoes

Defoes is a surname form used to refer to people bearing the English surname Defoe. In modern usage, Defoes can function as the plural or collective form when discussing multiple individuals who share the surname, or as a shorthand reference in genealogical or biographical contexts.

Notable bearer: The best known figure associated with the name is Daniel Defoe (c. 1660–1731), an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer. Defoe is widely regarded as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and his best-known work is Robinson Crusoe (1719). His oeuvre also includes A Journal of the Plague Year (1722) and numerous political writings that reflect the public debates of his time.

Origins and usage: The surname Defoe has appeared in English records with variant spellings over the centuries, reflecting common orthographic practices in early modern England. While Daniel Defoe is the most prominent bearer of the name, the form Defoes may appear in historical or archival references when describing groups of people who share the surname.

Modern presence: Today, individuals with the surname Defoe are found in English-speaking countries, and the plural form Defoes may be used in narrative or genealogical descriptions to refer to people bearing the name collectively. The usage remains primarily descriptive rather than denoting any specific lineage beyond the shared surname.

See also: Defoe (surname), Daniel Defoe.