Damas Family History

French: from a medieval personal name (Latin Dalmatius), originally an ethnic name for someone from Dalmatia (the coast of Croatia). The name may be of Illyrian origin and akin to southern Albanian delme ‘sheep’. It was borne by a 3rd-century bishop of Pavia and a 6th-century bishop of Rodez, both of whom were popularly venerated in the Middle Ages. The surname is also established in Spain and Portugal and may be of French origin.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press