Show ContentsDelehanty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In its ancient Gaelic form, the Irish name Delehanty was written Ó Dulchaointigh, which comes from the word dulchaointeach, which refers to a satirist. 1 The ancestor of this Irish family is said to have been Muintir Cormac or Muintir Dulchonta, which was gradually anglicized over the years, until it was rendered as Delahunt or Delahunty.

Although the name appears quite French, it seems highly unlikely that there are any French origins to the name, other than the Norman influence of the clerks, who began processing Irish names, as early as the 12th century.

Early Origins of the Delehanty family

The surname Delehanty was first found in Ormond, where records of the name can be found in deeds from around 1441 on. Petty's "census" of 1659 showed bearers of Delehanty in counties Offaly (King's county) and Kilkenny. The ancient and important Delehanty sept sometimes claims descent from the O'Hara Buidhe, Chiefs of Leyney in County Sligo, through Lughaidh.

Early History of the Delehanty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Delehanty research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1670 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Delehanty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Delehanty Spelling Variations

One name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Scribes typically spelt the surname as they saw fit. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Delehanty family name include Delahunt, Delahunty, DeLahunte, DeLaHunty, De-la-Hunt, Delahunt and many more.

Early Notables of the Delehanty family

More information is included under the topic Early Delehanty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Delehanty migration to the United States +

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Delehanty:

Delehanty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johanna Delehanty, who arrived in New York in 1838 2

Australia Delehanty migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Delehanty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Delehanty, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Delehanty (post 1700) +

  • Thomas E. II Delehanty, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Maine, 1980-81 4
  • Thomas Delehanty, American Democratic Party politician, Member, Credentials Committee, Democratic National Convention, 1948 4
  • Joseph Delehanty, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County 4th District, 1883 4
  • George E. Delehanty, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 4
  • Francis B. Delehanty, American Democratic Party politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District, 1915-27 4
  • Dolores Delehanty, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1972 4
  • Megan Delehanty (b. 1968), Canadian Olympic rower


The Delehanty 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: In fide et in bello fortes
Motto Translation: Firm in faith and war.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. 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)
  3. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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