Dey Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Dey Origin:

England, Ireland

Origins of Dey:

According to the early recordings of the spellings of this surname, this name has many forms and is found all over the British Islands. It has two possible origins. The first origin of the surname derives from the popular name “David,” a famous name all over the British Islands among the Middle Ages. It comes from the Hebrew word which means “beloved or lovely.” It was one of a large group of identical religious names brought into Europe from the Holy Land by the crusaders of the 12th century. Its reputation was because of the popularity of the King of Israel, and after that because of it being the name of the senior religious leader of Wales. It was also the name of two kings of Scotland. These were David I, 1124 – 1153, and David II, dated 1329 – 1371. In England the Dey surname is listed in 1150 in Lincolnshire in the form of “Dauid clericus,” and as “Davit” in the year 1278, in Cambridgeshire. The second possible origin for the surname is from the Olde English pre 7th-century personal name “Daei.” It comes from the word ‘daeg,’ which means ‘day,’ and it may also be a combination of personal names like Daegberht and Daegmund, translating as “day-bright” and “day-protection.” The derivations of the surname consist of Aluric Dai of Berkshire in 1196 and Ralph Deie of Leicestershire in 1211. Other records of the name are found to be Arthur de Yes, listed at the parish of St Gregory’s by St Pauls, London, in December 1619, while Richard Day was an early migrant to America, departing from London on the ship “Plaine Joan” in May 1635, bound for Virginia.

Variations:

More common variations are: Dewy, Doey, Deay, Deey, Deya, Deyi, Deyo, Deye, Duey, Dhey.

Ireland:

The origins of the surname Dey is found in the division of Clare located on the west beach of Ireland in the province of Munster, where O’Dea was the administrator of Dysart-O’ Dea, now the priest of Dysart, Lord of Inchiquin, one of the first leader and tribe of old Thomond. Today Dysert O’Dea palace is still located near Corofin, a division which was the corner of the war of Dysert O’Dea in the year 1318.

England:

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Robert Lech, dated about 1250, in the “Chartulary of Ramsey Abbey,” Huntingdonshire. It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Dey settled in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 17th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Dey who settled in the United States in the 17th century included John Dey who arrived in Virginia in the year 1664.

The following century saw much more Dey surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Dey who settled in the United States in the 19th century included J L Dey came in San Francisco, California in the year 1855. Susanna Dey and Joost Dey at the age of 23 arrived in New York in the same year 1856. Richard Dey came in Lowa in 1888.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Dey: United States 5,848; England 2,597; Canada 1,071; Wales 282; Germany 2,152; Poland 1,289; Nepal 1,853; Algeria 2,142; Ghana 7,429; Bangladesh 313,166

Notable People:

Anind Dey is a famous American computer scientist.

Bishnu Dey (1909-1982), was a Bengali poet.

Claudia Dey is a Canadian writer.

Edgar Dey (1883-1912), was a professional ice hockey player.

Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey (1861-1922), was a famous American writer.

Joseph Dey (1907-1991), was an administrator of golf.

K. C. Dey (1893-1962), was a Bengali artist, musician and music writer.

Krishanu Dey (1962-2003), was a famous Indian soccer player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (granted to Henry Dey, of Oxborough, co. Norfolk, by Dethick, Garter, 17 November, 1597). Blazon: Or, on a chief indented azure two mullets of the field.