Show ContentsDeasy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The saga of the Deasy family begins among the people of the ancient tribe of the Picts. They lived in Angus (in the modern region of Tayside), and claim descent from Gaelic MacDhai, son of David. [1]

Early Origins of the Deasy family

The surname Deasy was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they were descended from the Gaelic MacDhai, son of David. From the 13th century onward the name was anglicized MacDavid, Davidson, Deasson and Deas. The branches using Deas and Deasson settled in Angus and in Banffshire at the end of the fifteenth century.

"James Dais is recorded in Dundee, 1611, and Mr. John Daes in Huntliewood, 1638. James Daes was minister of the church of Ersiltoune, 1643. Andrew Daes, stabler, appears in Edinburgh, 1627, and David Daes, tailor there, 1666." [2]

Early History of the Deasy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deasy research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1627, 1638, 1677, 1683 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Deasy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deasy 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. Deasy has been written Deas, Dease, Deasey, Deasy, Dais, Daes, Deasson, Deason, Dasone and many more.

Early Notables of the Deasy family

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

Ireland Migration of the Deasy family to Ireland

Some of the Deasy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Deasy 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 Deasy:

Deasy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Martin Deasy, who settled in Philadelphia in 1835
  • James Deasy, aged 26, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1849 [3]

Canada Deasy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Deasy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Timothy Deasy, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
  • John Deasy, aged 22, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Patrick Deasy, aged 22, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Tim. Deasy, aged 30, a tanner, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Catherine Deasy, aged 35, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Deasy (post 1700) +

  • Mike Deasy, American musician, one of the most recorded guitarists in the history of music
  • Luere B. Deasy (b. 1859), American Republican politician, Member of Maine State Senate; Justice of Maine State Supreme Court, 1918-29; Chief Justice of Maine State Supreme Court, 1929-30 [4]
  • Irene M. Deasy, American politician, Independent Candidate for Vice President of the United States, 2004 [4]
  • Henry Hugh Peter Deasy (1866-1947), Irish army officer and pioneer in automobile construction, founder of the Deasy Motor Car Company; he also explored and surveyed Turkestan
  • Richard Deasy (1812-1883), Irish judge, the second son of Rickard Deasy of Clonakilty, County Cork


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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