Show ContentsDelahanty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In its ancient Gaelic form, the Irish name Delahanty was written Ó Dulchaointigh, which comes from the word dulchaointeach, which refers to a satirist. 1 The ancestor of this Irish family is said to have been Muintir Cormac or Muintir Dulchonta, which was gradually anglicized over the years, until it was rendered as Delahunt or Delahunty.

Although the name appears quite French, it seems highly unlikely that there are any French origins to the name, other than the Norman influence of the clerks, who began processing Irish names, as early as the 12th century.

Early Origins of the Delahanty family

The surname Delahanty was first found in Ormond, where records of the name can be found in deeds from around 1441 on. Petty's "census" of 1659 showed bearers of Delahanty in counties Offaly (King's county) and Kilkenny. The ancient and important Delahanty sept sometimes claims descent from the O'Hara Buidhe, Chiefs of Leyney in County Sligo, through Lughaidh.

Early History of the Delahanty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Delahanty research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1670 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Delahanty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Delahanty Spelling Variations

Scribes recorded people's names as they saw fit. As a result, surnames often had many spelling variations. For Delahanty some of these variations included: Delahunt, Delahunty, DeLahunte, DeLaHunty, De-la-Hunt, Delahunt and many more.

Early Notables of the Delahanty family

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


Australia Delahanty migration to Australia +

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

Delahanty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary Delahanty, aged 16, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Delahanty (post 1700) +

  • Thomas E. Delahanty II (1945-2021), American lawyer and former judge, United States Attorney for the District of Maine (2010-2017), Chief Judge of the Maine Superior Court (1990-1995)
  • Thomas E. Delahanty (1914-1985), American justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
  • Dolores Delahanty (b. 1929), American social activist and political leader from Louisville, Kentucky
  • Joseph "Joe" Nicholas Delahanty (1875-1936), American Major League Baseball player
  • Thomas "Tom" James Delahanty (1872-1951), American Major League Baseball infielder
  • James "Jim" Christopher Delahanty (1879-1953), American Major League Baseball second baseman
  • Edward "Big Ed" James Delahanty (1867-1903), American Major League Baseball player who played from 1888 to 1903, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1945)


The Delahanty 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: In fide et in bello fortes
Motto Translation: Firm in faith and war.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml


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