Surname Devery - Meaning and Origin
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Devery: What does the surname Devery mean?
The surname Devery is of Irish origin. It originates from the Irish name Ó Dubhthaigh, which means "descendant of Dubhthach," a personal name meaning "black". The Ó Dubhthaigh family likely derives from a chieftain of South West County Donegal in Ireland, and was well established in the region by the 12th century.
The Devery surname became common among the people who were living in the Irish counties of Fermanagh, Donegal, and Westmeath. These families were descendants of the Ó Dubhthaigh sept who were anciently established in the region. The first recorded spelling of the Devery family name was found in County Westmeath in 1617. The family were involved in many trades including millers, wool merchants, and farmers; and were devoted followers of the Catholic Church.
Today, the name Devery is dispersed around the world, with many individuals in the United States, Canada, Australia and England. The name is most common in the Irish counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. This is a sign of the family's ties to the region.
The name Devery suggests that its bearer is a descendant of the ancient Irish Ó Dubhthaigh sept, with roots traceable to the 12th century. The family was prominent in the Fermanagh, Donegal and Westmeath regions of Ireland, and was devoted to the Catholic faith. Today, the surname is widespread across the English-speaking countries, due in no small part to the emigration of Irish people in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisDevery: Where does the name Devery come from?
The last name Devery is relatively common throughout English-speaking countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the highest prevalence of the surname is in counties throughout the states of Pennsylvania and New York, specifically in counties such as Westchester and Dauphin. The Devery name is also prominently found in Ireland, Belgium, and France.
The Devery family surname comes from the Norman-French word "Dever," which translates to "guide." It is believed that the Devery surname originally referred to someone who served as a leader, or guided their people and tribe. Over time, the surname evolved and was used by many families throughout Europe.
Today, the Devery surname continues to be a relatively common one in many countries, particularity within English-speaking nations and countries throughout Europe. Although the Devery surname is not quite of the caliber of Smith or Johnson in popularity, it still carries a long and interesting history from the days of the Medieval era.
Variations of the surname Devery
The surname Devery is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname O Doibhéar. It is derived from the old Gaelic doibhéir meaning sorrowful, or sad. Spelling variants of Devery include Dovery, O'Dovvery, and O’Devear.
The O' prefix is a common feature of many Irish surnames and is simply an indication of the clan membership of the family. In the case of Devery, this clan is believed to have descended from the O'Dohertys, a noble Irish sept originally from County Donegal.
The Devery surname is most common in Ireland, particularly in County Cork. Other variants of the surname, such as Devary, O'Devary and Devre, can also be found in the United Kingdom. It is also found in the United States, largely in New York and Massachusetts, and may have been introduced by Irish immigrants in the 19th century.
Other surnames with the same origin as Devery include O'Devine, Deveraux, Divver, and Devaroe. Some of these may also take the longer version "du Devarre" (meaning "of Devarre"). In Ireland, the Irish versions of these names include O'Deimhín and O'Daimhín.
Overall, Devery is a relatively common surname with a long and distinctive history. The variations of this surname each come with their own unique stories and tell a much larger tale of Irish immigration and family history.
Famous people with the name Devery
- Jack Devery: an Australian cricketer
- Mike Devery: a former American football player
- Bill Devery: a former American baseball player
- Theodore Devery: an Army officer and decorated war hero
- Chuck Devery: an American musician and composer
- Robert Devery: an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts
- Jimmy Devery: an American actor and comedian
- Pat Devery: an Australian Rules footballer
- Mark Devery: an American skier and Olympic medalist
- Sean Devery: a professor of political science & international relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign