Deagan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The history of the name Deagan dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a deacon, an officer in the church. The occupation appears in the Old French as diacne, in Old English as diacon or deacon, and in Old English as deakne. Alternatively, the name could have been derived "from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of David.' " 1

Early Origins of the Deagan family

The surname Deagan was first found in Suffolk where Richard le Diakne was the first record of the family appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. A few years later, Richard le Deken(e) was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and later in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. 2

As an occupation, "Walter the Deacon was at the compilation of Domesday a tenant in chief in the counties of Gloucester and Essex." 3 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gile Deacon, Norfolk; Richard le Dekene, Norfolk; Adam le Dekene, Somerset; and Peter le Dekne, Cambridgeshire. 1

Up north in Scotland, the first record of the family was Walter Dekne, burgess of St. John's town of Perth, who had a safe conduct into England for two years, 1291. 5

Early History of the Deagan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deagan research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1212, 1256, 1327, 1332, 1379, 1697, 1715 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Deagan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deagan Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Deagan has undergone many spelling variations, including Deakin, Deacon, Deakan, Deakins, Dekne, Diakne and many more.

Early Notables of the Deagan family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deagan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deagan family to Ireland

Some of the Deagan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deagan family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Deagan were among those contributors: John Deacon who settled in Maine in 1628; and Martha Deacon who settled in Virginia in 1637; Alice Deacon settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Avis Deacon settled in Virginia in 1635.

The Deagan 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: In utrumque utroque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)