Surname Deevey - Meaning and Origin
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Deevey: What does the surname Deevey mean?
The last name Deevey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English pre-seventh century word "daege" meaning "day". It is believed that the name is a metonymic occupational surname referring to a person employed to look after cattle by day. It is also speculated that the surname may be a variant of the name Davy.
The earliest known recording of the Deevey family is found in the Assize Rolls in the county of Yorkshire, England, in 1219, when Robert de Day was listed. Later, records from the 14th century show the family as originating in Cornwall, where they held a seat of great importance, and their influence has extended into Scotland and Ireland.
Today, members of the family can be found in countries throughout the world, with the highest concentrations being located in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland. In the US, the 2000 census reported 162 people bearing the Deevey name, primarily located in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, California and Florida.
The Deevey family name is part of an old and distinguished heritage, and is a respected part of our global community. Its bearers are known for their generosity, kindness and sense of integrity. The Deevey name promises a strong connection to the past with an optimism for the future.
Order DNA origin analysisDeevey: Where does the name Deevey come from?
The last name Deevey is of Irish origin and is quite rare. It is still found in parts of Ireland, particularly in the greater Dublin area. According to the latest census, some of the highest concentrations of the name are in County Kildare, County Dublin, County Meath, and County Cork. Deevey can also be found in the United States, with slight variations spelling such as Devey, Deevee, or Devee. These variations are mostly found in the east coast states, most prominently in the states of New York and New Jersey.
County Cork has one of the highest concentrations of Deevey surnames in Ireland. It is likely that the name is a derivative of the Irish patronymic O’Deevy or O’Doibhilin, which was once a surname belonging to a sept of the Ui Neill clan. Although the origin of the Deevey surname is uncertain, it is likely that many of the name bearers in County Cork are descended from the Ui Neill clan.
The Deeveys are also common in other European countries, including Scotland, England, Germany, and France. Many of these family members are descendants of the original Irish immigrants who settled in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is not known exactly how many people in Europe are descended from these Irish settlers, but the name Deevey is still found throughout the continent.
Today, the last name Deevey continues to be a rarity; however, it can be found in many different countries around the world, with the most robust populations in Ireland and the United States. The Deevey family is still prominent in Ireland, with members of the family often being prominent in local Irish culture and politics.
Variations of the surname Deevey
The surname Deevey can be spelled in a plethora of ways. Some common variants include: Devey, Deevy, DeVay, DeVey, Devee, Deve, Devye, Devy, Devay, Deva, Devea, Dévé, and Divy.
Many people of French descent will spell the name as DeVé, with an acute accent over the "e" to reflect the pronunciation of the original French name. In accordance with Irish naming traditions, there is also a variant of the name – O'Deevey – reflecting the Irish "O’" prefix, which is believed to mean "of" or "from."
Because the name was historically associated with both the Irish and French populations of the British Isles, there are many Irish-sounding surnames that developed as variants of Deevey. These variants include MacDeiva, MacDeva, McDevey, McDivitt, McDevitt, McDowd, McDevitt, McDevay, McDevitt, MacDevitt, MacDevitt, MacDivitt, MacDeavy, MacDivay, MacDivitt, MacDivitt, McDevitt, MacDivitt, and McDevitt.
Though the spelling of the name has changed by location, many variants still exist in both spelling and pronunciation. In particular, the Irish variants of the name have become significantly more common in the last century or so within the Irish population. It is also common for the various spellings of the name to still be used in different parts of the world, with the Irish variants being the most popular in Ireland and the French variants being more common in France.
Famous people with the name Deevey
- Robert Deevey, American geneticist.
- Bill Deevey, former Navy Vice Admiral.
- William R. Deevey Jr., noted aviation historian.
- Sissy Deevey, American basketball player who won two college national championships.
- Patricia Deevey, American actress who appeared in Broadway musicals and films.
- Richard Deevey, British equestrian show jumper and coach.
- Peter Deevey, English mathematician, writer, and founder of the Oxford Mathematical Institute.
- Cole Deevey, American musician and producer.
- Bronwyn Deevey, Canadian scientist, bioinformatics specialist, and professor.
- James Deevey, American dancer and actor.