| ![Show Contents]() Dermot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Dermot comes from the Irish Gaelic Mac Diarmada, which means "son of Diarmuid," or, son of Dermot and belongs to the venerable Irish tradition of patronymic naming. However another source claims the name came from the Irish diarmaid, which meant "the god of arms." 1 Early Origins of the Dermot familyThe surname Dermot was first found in County Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where the family is believed to have been descended from the Heremon dynasty of Irish Kings and were known as the Princes of Moylurg, or the Kings of Connacht, known as the Clann Mulroona. Specifically they were descended from Teige, a King of Connacht and his son, Murtogh, Prince of Moylurg. Their ancient territories were in the counties of Roscommon and Galway. They were divided into three septs. One of the septs embraced English rule early and relatively painlessly, the other two suffered at the hands of Strongbow's invasion in the 12th century. Of the other two septs, the more prominent is based in Coolavin, in Sligo. This sept was originally found at Moylurg and controlled a large part of Roscommon. "The MacDermotts were ancient Princes of Moylurg, having their territories in the Barony of Boyle, County Koscommon, and parts of the Parishes of Islandeady, Turlough and Breaffy, in Counties Sligo and Mayo. Their chief fortress "was on an island in Lough Key, near Boyle," and they were hereditary Marshals of Connaught. At the present time Connaught is the province in which the MacDermotts are principally found, and half of the persons of the name in that province belong to County Roscommon. " 2 The head of this branch was one of the few leaders who is still credited as an authentic chieftain by the Genealogical Office of Ireland, conferring the rightful title The MacDermot. Moreover, the chief is also unofficially styled Prince of Coolavin. The third sept held a family seat at Kilronan in the north of Roscommon, and was referred to as MacDermot Roe, from the word ruadh, which means "red." Early History of the Dermot familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dermot research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1251, 1320, 1592, 1641, 1707 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Dermot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Dermot Spelling VariationsPeople who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Dermot that are preserved in archival documents are Dermott, Dermot, Dermitt, Dermit, McDermott, Dermutt, Dermut, MacDermott, McDermot, MacDermot, MacDermitt, McDermitt, MacDermit and many more. Early Notables of the Dermot familyNotable amongst the family name at this time was - Brian MacDermot (d. 1592) who held the famous manuscript "The Annals of Loch Cé"
 Dermot migration to the United States | + |
Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Dermot name:
Dermot Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Jo Dermot, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 3
Dermot Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Bryan Dermot, who landed in Virginia in 1723 3
Dermot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John, Thomas, James, and William Dermot, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1774 and 1804
- Susana Dermot, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 3
- Thomas Dermot, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 3
- John Dermot, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Dermot (post 1700) | + |
- Jonathan Dermot Spence CMG (1936-2021), English-born American historian, sinologist, and writer specialising in Chinese history, Sterling Professor of History at Yale University from 1993 to 2008
- Noel Dermot Dobbin, Canadian businessman and team President of the St. John's Fog Devils of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
- Dermot Keogh (1945-2023), Irish Professor of History and Emeritus Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration Studies at University College Cork
- Sir Dermot MacDermot,
- Dermot O'Neill (1963-1964), Irish gardener and editor of Garden Heaven magazine
- Dermot Fitzpatrick (1940-2022), Irish Fianna Fáil politician from Dublin who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency from 1987 to 1992 and 2002 to 2007, Senator from 1997 to 2002
- Dermot Patrick Honan (d. 1986), Irish politician, Fianna Fáil politician from County Clare in Ireland
- Dermot Drummy (1961-2017), English football coach and former professional player
- Dermot Meleady, Irish author and historian, known for his two-volume biography of the Irish Home Rule leader John Redmond: Redmond: The Parnellite
- Dermot "Spoofer" McNicholl (b. 1965), Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1980s and 1990s, member of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
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: Honor probataque virtus
Motto Translation: Honour and approved valour.
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
- Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
- 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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Dermot migration to the United States 
