Deak History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Deak is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a deacon, an officer in the church. The occupation appears in the Old French as diacne, in Old English as diacon or deacon, and in Old English as deakne. Alternatively, the name could have been derived "from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of David.' " 1

Early Origins of the Deak family

The surname Deak was first found in Suffolk where Richard le Diakne was the first record of the family appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. A few years later, Richard le Deken(e) was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and later in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. 2

As an occupation, "Walter the Deacon was at the compilation of Domesday a tenant in chief in the counties of Gloucester and Essex." 3 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gile Deacon, Norfolk; Richard le Dekene, Norfolk; Adam le Dekene, Somerset; and Peter le Dekne, Cambridgeshire. 1

Up north in Scotland, the first record of the family was Walter Dekne, burgess of St. John's town of Perth, who had a safe conduct into England for two years, 1291. 5

Early History of the Deak family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deak research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1212, 1256, 1327, 1332, 1379, 1697, 1715 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Deak History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deak Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Deak include Deakin, Deacon, Deakan, Deakins, Dekne, Diakne and many more.

Early Notables of the Deak family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deak Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deak family to Ireland

Some of the Deak family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deak family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: John Deacon who settled in Maine in 1628; and Martha Deacon who settled in Virginia in 1637; Alice Deacon settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Avis Deacon settled in Virginia in 1635.

Contemporary Notables of the name Deak (post 1700) +

Edit DeAk (1948-2017), (née Deak), a Hungarian-born American art critic and writer, co-founder of the journal Art-Rite
Jon Deak (b. 1943), American composer, contrabassist and education specialist
István Deák (1926-2023), Hungarian-born American historian, author and academic
Jon Deak (b. 1943), American composer, contrabassist, former Associate Principal Bassist of the New York Philharmonic (1973-2009)
Steven Deak, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 2008 6
Gustav Deak, American politician, Representative from New Jersey 6th District, 1926 6
Frances Deak, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Democrats Abroad, 2000 6
Ferenc Deák (1803-1876), born Ferenc Deák de Kehida, archaically English, Francis Deak, a Hungarian statesman and Minister of Justice, he was known as "The Wise Man of the Nation"
Tamás Deák (b. 1976), Hungarian rap artist, model and actor, better known by his stage name Speak
Zsombor Deák (b. 1989), professional triathlete from Romania
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Deak 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 utrumque utroque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html