Contents [hide]

Deane History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Deane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon name Deane comes from when the family resided in an area where there was a valley. The place-name is derived from the Old English word denu, when translated means valley. This Old English word has also given rise to other local names such as West Dean in Sussex, Deane in Hampshire and Dean in Essex. 1

"Atte Dene is the common form in old times, implying residence at such a place. There are, however, eighteen parishes or places called Dean in the Gazetteer of England, and Dene occurs in Domesday Book as a personal appellation." 2 Alternatively, the name could have been from one who holds the office as in "the dean." 3

Another source claims the name could have been Norman in origin as two listings in the Latin form of the name were found in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae in 1180-1195: William and Godfrey Decanus of Normandy. 4

Early Origins of the Deane family

The surname Deane was first found in Sussex where the first record was of Ralph Dene holding manor and estates in that shire. 5

"This name has two principal areas of distribution, one in Cheshire, Staffordshire, and in their vicinity, the other in the south of England, especially in Wiltshire and in the counties adjacent. There are numerous parishes of the name in the south of England, a circumstance that explains the prevalence of the name in that region." 6

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered perhaps eluding to the aforementioned occupational nature of the name: Thomas dela Dene, Hertfordshire; Jacob de la Dene, Kent; and Robert le Deen, Cambridgeshire. 3

In northern England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johanna del Dene; Willelmus del Dene; and Johannes de Denne as all holding lands there at that time. 3

William Dene (fl. 1350), was an early English chronicler and probably author of a work preserved in the Cotton Library in the British Museum containing a record of the history of Rochester, 'Annales Roffenses,' from 1314 to 1358. "A William Dene who is mentioned as archdeacon of Rochester at various dates between 1323 and 1338 is no doubt to be distinguished from the chronicler, though probably related to him." 7

Early History of the Deane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deane research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1400, 1440, 1491, 1496, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1582, 1585, 1588, 1610, 1628, 1638, 1653, 1676, 1703, 1708, 1709, 1721, 1731, 1890 and 1899 are included under the topic Early Deane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deane 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 Deane include Dean, Deane, Dene, Deans, Deanes, Denes, Adeane and others.

Early Notables of the Deane family

Distinguished members of the family include

Henry Deane (c.1440-1503), Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1491 to 1496, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1501 to 1503 and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal from 1500 to 1502; Richard Deane (1610-1653), a Br...
William Deane (d. 1588), was an English Catholic divine, educated in the English college at Rheims, and after ordination was sent on the mission in 1582. "He was apprehended before 1585, being one of...

Deane Ranking

In the United States, the name Deane is the 4,879^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Deane family to Ireland

Some of the Deane family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deane migration to the United States +

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:

Deane Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Stephen Deane, from Surrey, 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
Rachell Deane, aged 31, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 9
Rich Deane, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 9
Nathaniel Deane, aged 27, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Deane Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Susannah Deane, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 9
James Deane, who landed in Virginia in 1701 9
Matt Deane, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 9
followed by Francis Deane in 1730
Joseph Deane, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1741 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Deane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

St. George Deane, who landed in Connecticut in 1812 9
Elizabeth Deane, who arrived in New York, NY in 1846 9
D Deane, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
Patrick Deane, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1861 9
T J Deane, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1872 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Deane migration to Australia +

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

Deane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Deane, English convict from Oxford, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
Mr. Ralph Deane, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Nicholas Deane, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Ellen Maria Deane, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Winchester" in 1838 13
George Deane a farmer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Winchester" in 1838 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Deane 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:

Deane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

W Deane, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1837
Alfred Deane, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 14
Mr. Alfred Deane, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 15
Patrick Deane, aged 24, a painter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
Margaret Deane, aged 19, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Deane (post 1700) +

Charles Bennett Deane Jr. (1937-2022), American lawyer and politician, born in Rockingham, North Carolina, son of congressman Charles B. Deane
Brigadier-General John Russell Deane (1896-1982), American Head US Military Mission Moscow (1943-1945) 16
Silas Deane (1737-1789), American politician, Delegate to Continental Congress from Connecticut, 1774-76 17
Richard H. Deane Jr., American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, 1998 17
Michael B. Deane, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from District of Columbia, 1960 17
Harold Merriman Deane (1891-1929), American politician, U.S. Consul in Valparaiso, 1925-27; Montreal, 1927-29 17
Gilbert A. Deane, American politician, Member of New York State Senate 15th District, 1888-91 17
George B. Deane Sr., American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 9th District, 1874, 1879-80; Presidential Elector for New York, 1896 17
Charles Werden Deane (1837-1914), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Newaygo District, 1867-68; Village president, Pentwater, Michigan, 1867 17
Charles W. Deane, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 1st District, 1897-98 17
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Deane family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Wallace Bertram Deane (1922-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Crows Next, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18

The Deane 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: Forti et fideli nihil difficile
Motto Translation: To the brave and faithful man nothing is difficult.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WINCHESTER 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Winchester.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) John Deane. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Deane/John_Russell/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp