Dean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
Italy
Scotland

Etymology of Dean

What does the name Dean mean?

The ancestors of the bearers of the Dean family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in an area where there was a valley. The place-name is derived from the Old English word denu, when translated means valley. This Old English word has also given rise to other local names such as West Dean in Sussex, Deane in Hampshire and Dean in Essex. 1

"Atte Dene is the common form in old times, implying residence at such a place. There are, however, eighteen parishes or places called Dean in the Gazetteer of England, and Dene occurs in Domesday Book as a personal appellation." 2 Alternatively, the name could have been from one who holds the office as in "the dean." 3

Another source claims the name could have been Norman in origin as two listings in the Latin form of the name were found in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae in 1180-1195: William and Godfrey Decanus of Normandy. 4

Early Origins of the Dean family

The surname Dean was first found in Sussex where the first record was of Ralph Dene holding manor and estates in that shire. 5

"This name has two principal areas of distribution, one in Cheshire, Staffordshire, and in their vicinity, the other in the south of England, especially in Wiltshire and in the counties adjacent. There are numerous parishes of the name in the south of England, a circumstance that explains the prevalence of the name in that region." 6

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered perhaps eluding to the aforementioned occupational nature of the name: Thomas dela Dene, Hertfordshire; Jacob de la Dene, Kent; and Robert le Deen, Cambridgeshire. 3

In northern England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johanna del Dene; Willelmus del Dene; and Johannes de Denne as all holding lands there at that time. 3

William Dene (fl. 1350), was an early English chronicler and probably author of a work preserved in the Cotton Library in the British Museum containing a record of the history of Rochester, 'Annales Roffenses,' from 1314 to 1358. "A William Dene who is mentioned as archdeacon of Rochester at various dates between 1323 and 1338 is no doubt to be distinguished from the chronicler, though probably related to him." 7

Early History of the Dean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dean research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1400, 1440, 1491, 1496, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1582, 1585, 1588, 1610, 1628, 1638, 1653, 1676, 1703, 1708, 1709, 1721, 1731, 1890 and 1899 are included under the topic Early Dean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Dean include Dean, Deane, Dene, Deans, Deanes, Denes, Adeane and others.

Early Notables of the Dean family

Distinguished members of the family include

Henry Deane (c.1440-1503), Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1491 to 1496, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1501 to 1503 and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal from 1500 to 1502; Richard Deane (1610-1653), a Br...
William Deane (d. 1588), was an English Catholic divine, educated in the English college at Rheims, and after ordination was sent on the mission in 1582. "He was apprehended before 1585, being one of...

Dean World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dean is the 236^th most popular surname with an estimated 111,915 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Dean is ranked the 567^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,715 people with that name. 9 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dean is the 486^th popular surname with an estimated 97 people with that name. 10 Australia ranks Dean as 196^th with 16,557 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Dean as 287^th with 2,105 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Dean as 189^th with 29,671 people. 13

Migration of the Dean family to Ireland

Some of the Dean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dean or a variant listed above:

Dean Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Stephen Dean, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1621 14
Walter Dean, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 14
William Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1637 14
Nich Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 14
Nicholas Dean, who settled in Virginia in 1654
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliz Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1703 14
Jeams Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 14
Jeany Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1705 14
Daniel Dean, who landed in New England in 1725 14
Barzillai Dean, who landed in New England in 1745 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Dean, who landed in New York in 1801 14
Thomas Dean, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 14
Hugh Dean, who arrived in New York in 1810 14
Stewart Dean, who landed in Maryland in 1812 14
Ramo Dean, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ephrane W Dean, who arrived in Arkansas in 1900 14
Mr. Edwin Dean, (b. 1869), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th February 1900 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA 15

Dean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Dean, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
William Dean, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Mr. Aaron Dean U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 16
Mr. Jacob Dean U.E. (b. 1738) born in New York who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1818 16
Mr. Josiah Dean U.E. who settled in Sophiasburgh & Ameliasburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1786 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Dean, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 17
Miss. Mary Dean who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 17
Mr. Peter Dean, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in May 1847 17
Mr. Patrick Dean who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 18
Clara Dean, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dean, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Miss. Mary Dean, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years for stealing fabric, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
Benjamin Dean, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 21
Mr. Samuel Dean, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 22
Mr. James Dean, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Dean, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Jabez Dean, aged 21, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Ann Dean, aged 19, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mr. Jabez Dean, (b. 1818), aged 21, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 24
Mrs. Dean, (b. 1820), aged 19, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 24
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 25

Dean Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Abel Dean, who settled in Barbados in 1678
Henry Dean, who landed in Barbados in 1695 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Dean (post 1700) +

Clark Dean (b. 2000), American rower, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Randolph "Randy" Hume Dean (b. 1955), former American NFL football quarterback who played for three seasons for the New York Giants from 1977 to 1979
Robert Klein Dean (1955-2023), American handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics, identical twin brother of Randy Dean
Lynn Blackwell Dean (1923-2022), American politician from Louisiana, President of St. Bernard Parish (1992–1996), Member of the Louisiana State Senate (1996-2004)
Patrick Dean (1976-2021), American cartoonist and illustrator from Rome, Georgia
Frederick Rudolph "Fred" Dean (1952-2020), American professional NFL football defensive end, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Joe Dean (1930-2013), American basketball player, inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012
Nathan Dean (1934-2013), American politician, Senator Georgia Assembly (1975-2004)
Major-General William Frishe Dean (1899-1981), American Deputy Commanding General 6th Army (1955), last military governor of South Korea in 1947-1948 26
Major-General Herbert Reynolds Dean (1882-1970), American Director of Selective Service Rhode Island (1940-1945) 27
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dean family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Kay Dean (1957-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Reporoa, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 28

Halifax Explosion

Miss Harriet Dean, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29

HMS Hood

Mr. George A Dean (b. 1922), English Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Eltham, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
Mr. Cyril A J Dean (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Iffley, Oxfordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. James Dean, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 31

Pemberton Mill

Mr. Buell W. Dean, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, he managed to jump out of the way of a falling floor he survived

RMS Titanic

Mr. George H. Dean (d. 1912), aged 19, English Assistant Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 32
Mr. Bertram Frank Dean (d. 1912), aged 25, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
Mrs. Eva Georgetta Dean, (née Light), aged 32, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 32
Master Bertram Vere Dean, aged 1, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 32
Miss Elizabeth Gladys "Millvina" Dean, aged 2 mths, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 32

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Albert Edgar Dean (b. 1880), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 33

USS Arizona

Mr. William E. Dean, American Boatswain's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 34
Mr. Lyle Bernard Dean, American Coxswain working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 34

USS Indianapolis

John Thomas Dean Jr., American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 35

The Dean Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Forti et fideli nihil difficile
Motto Translation: To the brave and faithful man nothing is difficult.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 23)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 72)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) William Dean. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dean/William_Frishe/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Herbert Dean. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dean/Herbert_Reynolds/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew