Show ContentsDeely History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Early Origins of the Deely family

The surname Deely 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 Deely family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deely 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 Deely History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deely Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name Deely 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 Deely 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. " 3Angus O'Daly (d. 1617), was the Irish...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deely Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Deely migration to the United States +

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name Deely:

Deely Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Deely, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 4
  • Patrick Deely, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 4
  • Daniel Deely, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1867 4
  • Frank J Deely, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1886 4

Deely migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Deely Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Daniel Deely, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Alexander Stewart" departing from the port of Limerick, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 5

Deely migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Deely Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Deely, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Joseph Rowan" 6

Deely migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Deely Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Deely, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edwin Fox" in 1878
  • Alice Deely, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edwin Fox" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Deely (post 1700) +

  • John Deely (1942-2017), American philosopher and semiotician, Professor of Philosophy at Saint Vincent College and Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
  • John Martin Deely (1894-1973), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1936 (alternate), 1940; Presidential Elector for Massachusetts, 1936 7
  • Patrick Deely (1864-1925), Australian cricketer who played one first-class cricket match for Victoria in 1884


The Deely 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


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 23)
  6. South Australian Register Saturday 17th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Joseph Rowan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/josephrowan1854.shtml
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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