First found in Sussex where the first record was of Ralph Dene holding manor and estates in that shire.

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the oppurtunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Dene or a variant listed above: Stephen Deane who arrived on the 'Fortune', just one year after the arrival of the "Mayflower" in 1621. He built the first corn mill in New England. John Deane, his brother Walter and their wives arrived in New England in 1635.

Motto Translated: To the brave and faithful man nothing is difficult.

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