Show ContentsDeilly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Deilly Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Deilly

What does the name Deilly mean?

The origins of the Deilly name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in various counties throughout ancient Britain, as the name literally means "at the dale," or "of the dole," (a division of land.) 1

"The medieval form was At Dale, softened afterwards to A'Dale, as often found in parish registers of the XVI. cent., and widely renowned through the ballad of Robin Hood and Allin a'Dale." 2

Deal is "a sea-port, market-town, and parish, and a member of the town and port of Sandwich, in the union of Eastry, hundred of Cornilo, lathe of St. Augustine, E. division of Kent. The origin of this place is involved in obscurity: it has been considered as the spot where Cæsar first landed when he invaded Britain; but this hypothesis is very doubtful. Leland gives the town the name of Dela, and Nennius says that "Cæsar battled at Dola," which Camden supposes to mean Deal; there are no records, however, of any town existing here till several centuries after the Romans had quitted Britain." 3

Early Origins of the Deilly family

The surname Deilly was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273-1275 where Roger de le Dele and John Dele were listed in Norfolk, 4 Ralph de la Dale and Thomas de la Dale were registered in Suffolk and William dela Dole was registered in Cambridgeshire. 1

The Assize Rolls for Kent recorded John de Dele in 1317 and Hubert de Dele was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 4

Back in Norfolk, we found Thomas atte Dela, de Fodeston, rector of Foston, Norfolk in 1361 and John atte Dele, vicar of Wigenhale, Norfolk in 1374. 5

In Yorkshire, we found Thomas del Dale; Robertus del Dale; Willelmus at Dale; and Johannes at Dale as all holding lands there at the time according to the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. The Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire include a listing for Richard del Dale in 1332. 1

In Scotland, early records there show "Johannes de Dale was charter witness at Yester, 1374, Syme of Daile and Jok of Dail of the Newtoun occur in Ayrshire, 1470, and John Daill [was found] in Fouldaine, 1653." 6

Early History of the Deilly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deilly research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1567, 1602 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Deilly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deilly Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Deilly were recorded, including Deal, Deale, Dealey, Dealy, Deel and others.

Early Notables of the Deilly family

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

Migration of the Deilly family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Deilly family emigrate to North America: Jeremy Deale who was one of the original settlers of Virginia in 1606 before the "Mayflower"; William Deale settled in Barbados in 1685; Oliver Deal settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. 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)

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