Show ContentsDewling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Dewling family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Devon. This family was originally from Douai, near Lille, Normandy, and it is from this location that their surname derives.

Early Origins of the Dewling family

The surname Dewling was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Dewling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dewling research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dewling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dewling Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Dewey, Dewy, Dewye and others.

Early Notables of the Dewling family

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

Migration of the Dewling family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Dewling or a variant listed above were: George Dewey who settled in Bristol Rhode Island in 1820; John Dewey settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860; S.L. B.B. and A.T. Dewey and his wife, all arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.


Contemporary Notables of the name Dewling (post 1700) +

  • Richard T. Dewling, American politician, former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection


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