Deerlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Deerlay is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Deerlay family lived in Derbyshire. They were originally from Erle in Calvados, Normandy, and it is from the local form of this name, D'Erle, which means, from Erle, that their name derives. 1

Early Origins of the Deerlay family

The surname Deerlay was first found in Derbyshire at Darley, a parish, in the union of Bakewell, partly in the hundred of Wirksworth. Darley Abbey is a historic mill village, now a suburb of the city of Derby and Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town and civil parish.

Darley Dale dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Dereleie. 2 Darley Abbey was an Augustinian monastery that dates back to the 12th century when it was first listed as Derega. 3

In the parish of Lastingham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, the Darley family have been lords of the manor there for a considerable time.

Early History of the Deerlay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deerlay research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1702, 1795 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Deerlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deerlay Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Darley, Darleigh, Darligh, Darly and others.

Early Notables of the Deerlay family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deerlay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deerlay family to Ireland

Some of the Deerlay 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 Deerlay family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Deerlay or a variant listed above: James Darley who settled in Maryland in 1738; Richard and William Darley arrived in Philadelphia in 1854; John and William arrived in Philadelphia in 1798.

The Deerlay 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: Per mare
Motto Translation: By sea.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)