Dillinger

Dillinger is a surname of German origin. The most widely known bearer is John Herbert Dillinger (1903–1934), an American gangster who operated during the early 1930s. As the leader of the Dillinger Gang, he became a symbol of the public enemies era during the Great Depression. His bank robberies and prison escapes drew substantial attention and made him a top target for law enforcement; he was killed by FBI agents in Chicago in 1934. His life and activities have been the subject of extensive coverage in contemporary reports and in later popular culture.

Film and media references to the name include the 1973 biographical crime film Dillinger, directed by John Milius, which portrays his life and death. The film contributed to ongoing public interest in his story and the broader era of bank robberies and gangster lore in the United States.

Beyond the historical figure, Dillinger is a surname shared by various individuals and appears in fictional works that adopt the name for character or thematic purposes. The name itself is of German linguistic origin and is most closely associated in popular memory with John Dillinger and the cultural representations of his era.