Surname Dalzell - Meaning and Origin

Dalzell: What does the surname Dalzell mean?

The last name Dalzell is a surname of Scottish origins. It comes from the Middle English word dau, meaning "dale", and the Old French suffix -el, which is derived from either the Latin -ellus or the Germanic -el, both meaning "little". As a whole, the surname Dalzell essentially translates to "little dale".

In Scotland, the Dalzell surname was most common in the counties of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, where its bearers were said to hail from the small parish of Dalzell, located between the towns of Airdrie and Hamilton. It is believed that the Dalzell family were originally local landowners and were notable as members of the Lairds of Dalzell ranking.

The Dalzell surname is now common in many English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, Australia, and Canada. In America, the first known record of the name is with Charles Dalzell, who immigrated in 1790 and settled near Bedford, Pennsylvania.

In general, the name Dalzell is associated with a sense of independence and strength, as it was borne by honorable landowners and serves as a reminder of Scotland's past and vibrant culture. The name also suggests a connection to nature and the beauty of the countryside, while at the same time hinting at its bearers' small but significant place within the larger landscape.

Dalzell: Where does the name Dalzell come from?

The surname Dalzell is most commonly found today in Scotland, with a lesser presence in several other countries, including England, Ireland, and the United States.

Scotland has the largest concentration of people bearing the name Dalzell. In particular, the region of Renfrewshire, which lies to the southwest of Glasgow, is widely known for having large numbers of individuals with the surname Dalzell.

The name is also fairly common in the US, though the numbers are significantly lower than in Scotland. In the US, the surname is distributed most heavily across the states of Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia.

In England, the name is seen in a few specific counties, particularly Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Aberdeen, and Staffordshire. These areas are all former regions of Scotland and were populated by Scots who had migrated south to England.

In Ireland, there is a smaller presence of the Dalzell surname which is likely due to the huge exodus of Irish people during the 19th century - known as The Great Famine.

Elsewhere, the Dalzell surname is found in small numbers in many other countries, including New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Dalzell

The surname Dalzell is an English and Scottish surname of multiple possible origins. It is derived from the Breton words deGalez, meaning a servant or boy, and thus could have been a nickname or surname given to a servant. Alternatively, the surname may be derived from the town of Dalzell in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was thus used to refer to someone who originally hailed from that area.

Variations of the surname Dalzell include Dalzel, Dalziell, Dalzel, Daizele, Daizell, Delley, Dalleigh, Dallie, Dalzeil, and Dalziel. With regards to spelling, the surname can also be found in the form of Dallzell, Delzell, Dalzzell, and Dallzzell.

In England, variants of the surname Dalzell might also be found through the use of patronymic surnames. These surnames take the form of a first name that is then suffixed each generation. For instance, in addition to variations of the surname Dalzell, families hailing from the same area may be found with the surnames Dalzellson, Dalzells, Dalzelles, Dalzeller, Dallzeller, and Dallsell.

In comparison to Scotland, Irish families of the same origin were more likely to Anglicise their surname to forms such as Dallas and Dallis.

Famous people with the name Dalzell

• Sean Dalzell: Scottish-born, American singer/songwriter
• Richard Dalzell: Director of New York-based adventure company 'RAW Adventures'
• Margaret Dalzell: Sister of Australian Prime Minister, John McEwen
• Alexander Dalzell: Former Governor of Tasmania (1880–1886)
• Thomas Dalzell: 19th century Scottish poet
• Alex Dalzell: Two-time Olympic rower for Team GB
• John Dalzell: Former British civil servant and government official (19th century)
• William Dalzell: American politician and businessman (17th century)
• Frances Dalzell: Philanthropist, Director and Chairman of the 'Dalzell Charitable Trust' (UK)
• George Dalzell: Irish clergyman and abolitionist (17th century)
• Josephine Villiers-Farrow: Lady Dalzell, Pearson family heiress (20th century)
• John Dalzell, 2nd Earl of Carnwath: Scottish nobleman, MP, huntsman, and soldier (18th/19th century)

Other surnames

Dalzeil