Duke (disambiguation) facts for kids

A Duke is a very important title for a noble person, often someone who rules a large area called a Grand Duchy. It's one of the highest ranks in nobility, like a prince or king, but usually under a king.

The word "Duke" or "Dukes" can also mean other things, like:

People Named Duke

Sometimes, "Duke" is a person's last name or a nickname.

Surnames

• Some people have the last name Duke or Dukes.

Famous Nicknames

Many famous people have been known by the nickname "Duke":

• Duke Ellington: A legendary American jazz musician, famous for his piano playing and leading a big band.
• Duke Kahanamoku: A Hawaiian athlete who won Olympic medals in swimming and helped make surfing popular around the world.
• John Wayne: A very famous American actor, known for his roles in Western movies.
• Duke Snider: A well-known American baseball player who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• Paul Lo Duca: A former Major League Baseball catcher.
• Mark Viduka: A talented Australian soccer player.

Fictional Characters Named Duke

You might have heard of these characters:

• Duke (G.I. Joe): The main hero from the G.I. Joe TV shows, toys, and comic books.
• Duke Nukem (character): A tough action hero from many video games.
• Duke the Lost Engine: A character from The Railway Series books, which inspired Thomas & Friends.
• Duke: The friendly dog from the movies Barnyard and Back at the Barnyard.

Movies and TV Shows Called Duke

Several movies and TV shows have "Duke" in their title:

• The Duke (1954): An old TV series.
• The Duke (1979): A TV miniseries.
• The Duke (1999): A Disney film.
• The Dukes: An animated cartoon that was a spin-off of The Dukes of Hazzard.

Music with Duke in the Name

• Duke (1980): A popular album by the band Genesis.
• The Duke (2006): An album by Jørn Lande.
• Duke Records: A record label from Memphis, Tennessee, that released music from 1952 to 1973.
• "The Duke": A famous jazz song written by Dave Brubeck.

Sports Teams Named Dukes

Many sports teams use "Dukes" as their mascot or team name:

• Duquesne Dukes: The sports teams of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
• James Madison Dukes: The sports teams of James Madison University in Virginia.
• Wellington Dukes: A junior ice hockey team from Canada.
• Albuquerque Dukes: A former professional baseball team.

Businesses and Products Called Duke

• Duke Energy: A large company in the United States that provides electricity and gas.
• Duke's: A brand of soft drinks from India.

Transportation Called Duke

• Beechcraft Duke: A type of twin-engine airplane.
• KTM Duke: A series of motorcycles made by the company KTM.
• The Duke: An old steam locomotive built in 1817.

Dogs Named Duke

• Duke: The family dog in the classic TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
• Duke: A golden retriever dog who appears in commercials for Bush's Baked Beans.

Other Uses of Duke

• Duke University: A well-known private university in North Carolina.
• Duke (mascot): The friendly mascot for the Java programming language.
• The Duke Endowment: A group that gives money to help good causes, like education and healthcare.
• Duke: An old size for paper, measuring about 7 by 5.5 inches.

Related Pages

• Duchess (disambiguation)