dantes

Dantes is a proper noun used primarily as a surname and, less commonly, as the plural form of the given name Dante. In some contexts it also appears as a surname for fictional or real individuals and may be encountered in genealogical or biographical records.

Etymology and origins commonly tie Dantes to the given name Dante, which in turn derives from the Latin name Durante. The name Dante became well known in Italy due to Dante Alighieri, the 13th–14th century poet whose work, The Divine Comedy, is a cornerstone of Western literature. Surnames that appear as Dantes are often understood to be patronymic or derivative forms indicating descent from or association with someone named Dante.

Usage and distribution examples indicate that Dantes appears across Romance-language–speaking regions and in communities influenced by those languages. As a surname, it can be found in various countries and may reflect historical naming practices that converted given names into family identifiers. In literature and media, Dantes can be used for fictional characters or as a contemporary surname, without implying a single, centralized origin.

See also: Dante, Dantès, Durante.