Deeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Deeley is Ó Dalaigh, from the word "dalach," which comes from "dail," which means "assembly." 1

Early Origins of the Deeley family

The surname Deeley was first found in the barony of Magheradernon, in County Westmeath and traditionally claim descent from Eanna Ceannselach (Ian Kinsella), King of Leinster. They became Chiefs of Muintir Bhaire in the south west of Cork, and later in the north west of the same county, largely in O'Keefe's country. A distinct sept was found in Desmond as early as 1165.

"Cuconnachta-na-Scoil O'Daly (or "Cuconnachta of the Schools") was the first of this family that assumed the surname." 2

Early History of the Deeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deeley research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1139, 1574, 1583, 1595, 1600, 1614, 1617, 1638, 1662, 1665, 1680, 1721, 1902, 1955 and 1976 are included under the topic Early Deeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deeley Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers. Literacy was rare at that time and so how a person's name was recorded was decided by the individual scribe. Variations of the name Deeley include Daly, Daley, Daylie, Dayley, Dalley, Dailey, Daily, Dailley, Dally, O'Daily, O'Daley and many more.

Early Notables of the Deeley family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Daniel O'Daly (1595-1662), Irish diplomat and historian. He was "a native of Kerry, born in 1595, was member of a branch of an Irish sept which took its name from an ancestor, Dalach, in the twelfth century. His family were among the adherents of the Earl of Desmond, who was attainted for having opposed the government of Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, and was killed there in 1583. " 3Angus O'Daly (d. 1617), was the Irish...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deeley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deeley migration to the United States +

In the late 18th century, Irish families began emigrating to North America in the search of a plot of land to call their own. This pattern of emigration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s cause thousands of Irish to flee the death and disease that accompanied the disaster. Those that made it alive to the shores of the United States and British North America (later to become Canada) were, however, instrumental in the development of those two powerful nations. Many of these Irish immigrants proudly bore the name of Deeley:

Deeley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Deeley, who landed in South Carolina in 1728 4

Deeley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Deeley, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1854 4

Deeley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Deeley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Deeley, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mallowdale" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 9th March 1875 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Deeley (post 1700) +

Patrick Deeley (b. 1953), Irish poet, born in Loughrea, County Galway
James Deeley (1871-1895), English professional footballer
Richard M. Deeley, British geologist on Antarctica, eponym of Mount Deeley
Andrew Deeley, New Zealand former association footballer
Michael Deeley (b. 1932), British film producer, best known for his work on The Italian Job, The Deer Hunter and Blade Runner
Catherine Elizabeth "Cat" Deeley (b. 1976), English two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominated television presenter, actress, singer, and model
Richard Mountford Deeley (1855-1944), British engineer, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Midland Railway
Norman Victor Deeley (1933-2007), English professional footballer
Ben Deeley (1878-1924), Vaudeville and early movie actor
Sir Harry Deeley Mallaby -Deeley (1863-1937), 1st Baronet of Mitcham Court, British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Harrow (1910-1918)

The Deeley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Deo fidelis et Regi
Motto Translation: Loyal to God and king

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html