Day Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Day Origin:

England, Ireland

Origins of Name:

The surname of Day has two possible origins from which it derives. The first of these possible origins is that it derives from the personal name “David” which was one of the most popular personal names in the British Isles during the Middle Ages. The personal name of David is derived from the Hebrew word which is translated to mean “beloved.” This surname derives from the personal name of David, which was a biblical name that was part of a group of these names introduced into Europe from the Hold Land by the famous crusaders of the 12th Century. The personal name of David was popularized during this time because of King David of Israel, and later throughout history because St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales. In Scotland, this name is also popularized because of the two kings of Scotland who bore the personal name of David. David I, King of Scotland, reigned from the year 1124 to the year 1153, while David II ruled from the year 1329 to the year 1371. This name comes from the Old English Pre 7th Century “Daei” which comes from the word “daeg” which can be translated to mean day. This name surname may also be a shortened version of the personal names “Daegberht” and “Daegmund” which can be translated to mean “day-bright” and “day-protection.”

Variations:

More common variations are:

Daye, Deay, Daiy, Dawy, Daay, Daoy, Dayo, Daya, Dayi, Duay, Daw, Dey

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Day was dated for the year of 1095. One person with the name of Godina Daia was recorded and mentioned in the “Feudal Documents from the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk.” Other mentions of the surname of Day are mentioned as one Aluric Dai who was recorded in Berkshire in the year 1196, and Ralph Deie who was recorded in Leicestershire in the year 1211. Those who bear the surname of Day are found in various parts of the country in England. There are areas of the country of England that have high concentrations of people who bear the surname of Day, and these areas are in County Hertfordshire and County Bedfordshire.

Ireland

The Day family name in Ireland can be of both English or Irish origin. In 1622 an English family from Essex settled in Tralee. Robert Day built Day Place in Tralee in about 1800.

The Irish O’Deaghaidh clan was originally from county Clare, and later would become sometimes O’Dee or O’Day.

United States of America:

During the European Migration, it was common for these disgruntled European citizens to migrate to the United States in search of something better for them and their families. The United States promised the freedom of religion, the freedom from unfair taxation, and the capability to find work and own land. Many citizens came to America, which was referred to as The Colonies and The New World. Among these citizens were people who carried the surname of Day. The first recorded person to enter the United States of America and bore the surname was one Anthony Day, who landed in the state of Massachusetts in the year 1635. It is possible that someone who bore the surname of Day tried to make the journey to the United States before the year 1635, but was unable to do so because of the living conditions on the transport vessels used to bring people to America. People who bear the surname of Day are found throughout the United States. The states that have high concentrations of people who bear this surname are in New York, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.

Day Today:

United States 121,672

England 37,336

India 21,712

Australia 16,026

Canada 11,335

Bangladesh 6,531

South Africa 6,411

Brazil 4,881

Turkey 3,005

Russia 2,846

Notable People:

Ann Day (1938-2016) who was a Member of the Arizona State Senate in the 12th District, and was elected in the year 1998, who was also a Republican politician from America

William W. Day, who was a Dry Candidate for the Delegate of the New York Convention to ratify the 21st Amendment in the year 1933, and who was a politician from America

William S. Day who was the Mayor of Boca Raton, Florida from the year 1952 to the year 1953, and then was re-elected for the year 1954, and was a politician from America

William S. Day, who was the Postmaster at Rockville, Maryland from the year 1915 to the year 1916 and was a Democratic politician from America

William Rufus Day (1849-1923) who was the Secretary of State in the year 1898, served as a Judge of U.S. Court Appeals from the year 1899 to the year 1903, was a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from the year 1903 to the year 1922

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (cos. Berks, Buckingham, Sussex, and the Isle of Ely; granted 1606). Per chev. or and az. three mullets counterchanged. Crest—Two hands conjoined ppr. fixed to a pair of wings, the dexter or, the sinister az. each charged with a mullet counterchanged. Another Crest—Two wings expanded or and az.
2) (Manarabon, cos. Carmarthen and Salop). Same Arms. Crest—Two hands clasping each other, couped at the wrist, and conjoined to a pair of wings ppr. each wing charged with a mullet or.
3) (co. Essex). Ar. a fesse betw. three martlets in chief and a chev. in base az.
4) (London; granted 20 March, 1582). Gu. two flaunches erm. on a chief az. three suns or. Crest—A greyhound’s head erased ar. collared, ringed, and lined gu. the end nowed.
5) (London). Erm. on a chief indented az. two (another, six) eagles displ. ar.
6) (co. Salop). Per chev. ar. and az. three mullets counterchanged.
7) Quarterly, ar. and gu. a cross quarterly and pierced betw. four roses all counterchanged, slipped vert.
8) Per fesse or. and az. three mullets counterchanged.
9) (Lieut. John Day, of Sir George Bourchier’s Company, Master of the Ordnance, temp. Queen Elizabeth. Fun. Ent. of Maurice Smith, Clerk of the Ordnance in Ireland, d. 12 Feb., 1640, whose wife was Elizabeth, dau. of said John Day). Per chev. crenellee sa. and ar. in chief three estoiles, and in base an eagle displ. counterchanged armed or, a crescent for diff.
10) (co. Cork; confirmed to Richard Day, M.D., of Auckland, New Zealand, Robert Dat, of Cork, Merchant, and Rev. William Tottenham Day, M.A., Rector of Rathclarin, dioc. of Ross, sons of the late Richard Day, of Youghal, by Mart Anne Collins, his wife, and grandsons of Thomas Day, of Youghal, by Susanna, his wife, dau. of Jean Roviere, a French Huguenot Officer, who served in the army of William III., and subsequently settled at Youghal). Motto—Sic itur ad astra. Per chev. or and az. a crescent betw. three mullets, all counterchanged. Crest—Two hands clasping each other in fess ppr. conjoined at the wrists to a pair of wings, the dexter or, the sinister az. the former charged with a mullet, and the latter with a crescent counterchanged.
11) (Fitzgerald-Day: exemplified, 1841, to Rev. John Robert Fitzgerald and Rev. Edward Fitzgerald, both of Spring Hill, co. Kerry, on their assuming, by royal licence, the additional surname of Fitzgerald, in compliance with the wishes of Robert Day, Esq., of Leighlinstown, co. Dublin). Motto—Sic itur ad astra. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, per chev. or and az. three mullets counterchanged, in the centre chief point a mullet gu. for diff., for Day; 2nd and 3rd, erm. on a saltier gu. a cross formee ar. the whole within a bordure gobony erm. and az., for Fitzgerald. Crest—Two dexter hands clasped together ppr. each from a wing expanded, quarterly or and az. counterchanged, over the hands a mullet gu.