Show ContentsDulle Surname History

In Scottish history, few names go farther back than Dulle, whose ancestors lived among the clans of the Pictish tribe. The ancestors of the Dulle family lived in a place named Dallas in Moray, near the royal burgh of Forres. The place name Dallas comes from the Gaelic dail or "meadow," and fas or "dwelling." Another source claims "this place takes its name from the two Gaelic words dale, a vale or plain, and uis, contracted from uisge, water." 1

Early Origins of the Dulle family

The surname Dulle was first found in Moray. "The first of the family was Willelmus de Rypeley, an Englishman, who obtained a grant or confirmation of the lands of Dolays Mykel from William the Lion. Archebaldus de Doleys appears as juror on an inquisition on the lands of Mefth in 1262." 2 Sir William de Doleys, knight, was living in 1286; and in 1367 appears John de Dolais, Thane of Cromdale.

Early History of the Dulle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dulle research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1600, 1617, 1630, 1702, 1756, 1791, 1824, 1869 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dulle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dulle Spelling Variations

Although Medieval Scotland lacked a basic set of spelling rules, which meant that scribes recorded names according to their sounds it was not uncommon for the names of a father and son to be recorded differently. As a result, there are many spelling variations of Scottish single names. Dulle has been written Dallas, Doleys, Dolas, Dolles, Dulles, Dallass, Dolays, Dalhouse and many more.

Early Notables of the Dulle family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir Robert Dallas, SL, KC (1756-1824) an English judge, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the eldest son of Robert Dallas of Cooper's Court, St. Michael's, Cornhill. Alexander Robert Charles Dallas (1791-1869)...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dulle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Dulle family to Ireland

Some of the Dulle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dulle migration to the United States +

Thousands of Scots left their home country to travel to Ireland or Australia, or to cross the Atlantic for the North American colonies. The difficult crossing was an enormous hurdle, but those who survived found freedom and opportunity in ample measure. Some Scots even fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence. This century, their ancestors have become aware of the illustrious history of the Scots in North America and at home through Clan societies and other organizations. Passenger and immigration lists show many early and influential immigrants bearing the name Dulle:

Dulle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John B Dulle, aged 31, who landed in Missouri in 1848 3


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. 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)


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