Show ContentsDiffly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Diffly is an Anglicization of the original Irish Ó Duibhghiolla, from the Gaelic meaning "black" and "lad." 1

Early Origins of the Diffly family

The surname Diffly was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where it belonged to two different septs, the Ui Fiachrach in the southwest of the county and the Siol Anmchadha in the southeast.

Early History of the Diffly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Diffly research. More information is included under the topic Early Diffly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Diffly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Devilly, O'Devilly, Diffley, Devally, Deffely, Deely and many more.

Early Notables of the Diffly family

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

Migration of the Diffly family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peggy and Thomas Devally, who immigrated to St. John, New Brunswick in 1834; Patrick, Mary, George, James, and Bridget Deffely, who landed in New York in 1847.


Contemporary Notables of the name Diffly (post 1700) +

  • John J. Diffly, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1936 2


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook