O'Dawly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Dawly is Ó Dalaigh, from the word "dalach," which comes from "dail," which means "assembly." 1

Early Origins of the O'Dawly family

The surname O'Dawly was first found in the barony of Magheradernon, in County Westmeath and traditionally claim descent from Eanna Ceannselach (Ian Kinsella), King of Leinster. They became Chiefs of Muintir Bhaire in the south west of Cork, and later in the north west of the same county, largely in O'Keefe's country. A distinct sept was found in Desmond as early as 1165.

"Cuconnachta-na-Scoil O'Daly (or "Cuconnachta of the Schools") was the first of this family that assumed the surname." 2

Early History of the O'Dawly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Dawly research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1139, 1574, 1583, 1595, 1600, 1614, 1617, 1638, 1662, 1665, 1680, 1721, 1902, 1955 and 1976 are included under the topic Early O'Dawly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Dawly Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name O'Dawly family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Daly, Daley, Daylie, Dayley, Dalley, Dailey, Daily, Dailley, Dally, O'Daily, O'Daley and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Dawly family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Daniel O'Daly (1595-1662), Irish diplomat and historian. He was "a native of Kerry, born in 1595, was member of a branch of an Irish sept which took its name from an ancestor, Dalach, in the twelfth century. His family were among the adherents of the Earl of Desmond, who was attainted for having opposed the government of Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, and was killed there in 1583. " 3 Angus O'Daly (d. 1617), was the Irish...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Dawly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Dawly family

Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Dawly or a variant listed above: the Widow Daley who settled in Canada in 1846.

The O'Dawly 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: Deo fidelis et Regi
Motto Translation: Loyal to God and king

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print