Show ContentsDivall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Divall family

The surname Divall was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, [1] indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Daville, by Robert de Aivilla, of Daville who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Divall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Divall research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1200, 1260 and 1553 are included under the topic Early Divall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Divall Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Davall, Davolls, Deavall, Deaville, Devall, De Vile, De Ville, Devill, Deville, Divall, Devell and many more.

Early Notables of the Divall family

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


United States Divall migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Divall Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Divall, who arrived in America in 1774

Australia Divall migration to Australia +

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

Divall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Divall, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Divall (post 1700) +

  • Richard Divall AO OBE (1945-2017), Australian conductor and musicologist, music director of the Victoria State Opera in Melbourne, Principal Resident Conductor of Opera Australia


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848


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