Dearay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Dearay come from its first bearer, who was a beloved person or as a term of endearment. The surname Dearay also derived from the animal deer.

Early Origins of the Dearay family

The surname Dearay was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Dearay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dearay research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1300, 1327 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dearay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dearay Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Dearay has been spelled many different ways, including Dear, Deare, Dere, Deer, Dearie, Deir and others.

Early Notables of the Dearay family

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

Migration of the Dearay family to Ireland

Some of the Dearay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dearay family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Dearays to arrive in North America: Fletcher Dear who settled in Philadelphia in 1820; Joseph, Thomas, and William Deare settled in Virginia between 1637 and 1663; Anne and Darby Deare arrived in New England in 1637.