Diffley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Diffley

What does the name Diffley mean?

The surname Diffley is an Anglicization of the original Irish Ó Duibhghiolla, from the Gaelic meaning "black" and "lad." 1

Early Origins of the Diffley family

The surname Diffley was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where it belonged to two different septs, the Ui Fiachrach in the southwest of the county and the Siol Anmchadha in the southeast.

Early History of the Diffley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Diffley research. More information is included under the topic Early Diffley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Diffley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Devilly, O'Devilly, Diffley, Devally, Deffely, Deely and many more.

Early Notables of the Diffley family

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

Migration of the Diffley family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peggy and Thomas Devally, who immigrated to St. John, New Brunswick in 1834; Patrick, Mary, George, James, and Bridget Deffely, who landed in New York in 1847.

Contemporary Notables of the name Diffley (post 1700) +

John Diffley (b. 1967), retired American soccer player
Kathleen Elizabeth Diffley, American Civil War scholar
Sean Diffley, Irish rugby expert

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)