Surname Dewley - Meaning and Origin
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Dewley: What does the surname Dewley mean?
The surname Dewley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English pre 7th century personal name Deall or Deawe, which means 'one who is dear' and 'beloved'.
The name is also spelled variously as Dauley, Dawley, Dale and Dell. It is quite rare even today, being most common in Britain, Ireland and the United States.
The surname Dewley can be found in records as far back as 1176, when science reported the marriage of a Hugh De Valle to a Matilda de Gray. In 1532, Henry Dewley was recorded as being a student in Oxford university. In 1602 Elizabeth Dewley was baptised in the hamlet of Bude Cornwall.
The first known documented instance of the immigration of a Dewley family to the United States occurred in 1846, when Robert and Margaret and their four children left County Antrim, Ireland.
The Dewley surname is an important part of family history and its presence on records from many centuries ago indicate the long-standing value and history it holds. It is now a symbol of love and loyalty and is still widely used globally to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisDewley: Where does the name Dewley come from?
The last name Dewley is most common in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau in 2019, over 39,000 individuals had the last name Dewley, making it the 1,467th most common name in the country. It was particularly common in the Midwest states, particularly Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa. The name is also reported to be found in Canada, making up over 500 individuals in the country.
The name Dewley is of Old English origin and is derived from a personal name 'Dubhghaill' or 'Dufgual'. The name means 'dark foreigner' or 'dark stranger'. It can also be spelled Dewly or Dewlie.
Though the population of individuals with the last name Dewley is growing, it is still considered a rare surname, making up approximately 0.013% of the US last name population. It is likely that the name Dewley will become an even rarer name in the coming years as the population of individuals with the name decreases.
Variations of the surname Dewley
The surname Dewley is of English origin, and has several alternative spellings. The most common variations are Dealey, Delew, de Wely, and Dewle.
The surname Dewley is most commonly linked to an area near Cheshire in northwest England. In this area, there are several possible histories for the name, including "D'Ailey," from the Latin "mensa," meaning "table," and "Dela" from the old French term meaning "of the meadow," suggesting that the family originally lived on a meadow near a hill.
The surname Dewley can also be found in France, and in this case it is believed to have come from the Latin "de Vir," meaning "of the manor." Additionally, in northern France the name is also known as "Deuilley," derived from the Latin "de Philippo," meaning "of Saint Philip, which suggests an early affiliation with the church.
In the United States, there are several variants of the name Dewley, including Dealey, Delew, Dewly, and Dewlee. Variants of the surname in Ireland include de Wely, Doolley, and Dowlay. As well, in Scotland variants can be found as de Vully, and in Wales variants include de Vley and de Vleye.
In many cases, variants of the Dewley surname might be spelled differently because of the illiterate state of the populace throughout history.
Famous people with the name Dewley
- Davey Dewley: Canadian ice hockey player.
- Dewey Rubite: Filipino politician.
- William Dewley: American-born British architect.
- Kenneth Dewley: professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Sammy Dewley: American child actor.
- Jesse Dewley: American-Australian actor and producer.
- George Dewley: American actor and voice artist.
- Fred Dewley: English rugby union player.
- Tristram Dewley: artist and designer.
- Joe Dewley: professional wrestler.
- Michael Dewley: member of the Welsh poetical family.
- Ben Dewley: Stand-up Comedian.
- Ryan Dewley: American disc jockey.
- Al Dewley: American cinematographer.
- Holly Dewley: British makeup artist.
- David Dewley: Australian actor and singer.
- Jacob Dewley: British entrepreneur and investor.
- Russell Dewley: British photographer and artist.
- Douglas Dewley: British architect and urban planner.
- Thomas Dewley: American revolutionary war soldier and officer.