Show ContentsDeavall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Deavall family

The surname Deavall was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Daville, by Robert de Aivilla, of Daville who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Deavall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deavall research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1200, 1260 and 1553 are included under the topic Early Deavall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deavall Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Davall, Davolls, Deavall, Deaville, Devall, De Vile, De Ville, Devill, Deville, Divall, Devell and many more.

Early Notables of the Deavall family

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

Migration of the Deavall family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Devell, who arrived in Braintree, MA in 1643; George Devell, who arrived in Virginia in 1655; James Devell, who arrived in Maryland in 1671; Robert Divall, who arrived in America in 1774.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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