| ![Show Contents]() Danny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of DannyWhat does the name Danny mean? The name Danny was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Danny family lived in Wiltshire. The family was originally from Anizy, in Calvados, Normandy, and it is from this location that their surname derives. The name would have stood as D'Anizy, which means from Anizy. 1 Early Origins of the Danny familyThe surname Danny was first found in Wiltshire where Richard de Dauntesye was one of the first records of the name as listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed Peter de Dauntesy in Berkshire. 2 West Lavington in Wiltshire "was for many generations the property of the Dauntsey family, of whom William Dauntsey, a younger son, was alderman of London in 1542." 3 He would later found and endow an almshouse, and a grammar school there. The church contains the sepulchral chapel of the Dauntsey family. Through marriage the property passed to the Danvers family. Early History of the Danny familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Danny research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1242, 1348, 1349, 1542, 1632, 1660 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Danny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Danny Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Dancey, Dauncy, Dauncey, Dauntsey, Dance, Dancie, Dauncie, Dauntsie and many more. Early Notables of the Danny familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Dansy, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1348 and 1349. Roger Dansey was High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1632. William Dauntesey (or Dauntsey) was a London merchant and Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. He died...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Danny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Danny family to IrelandSome of the Danny family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Danny migration to Canada | + |
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Danny or a variant listed above: Danny Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century- Honore Danny, who arrived in Montreal in 1653
| Contemporary Notables of the name Danny (post 1700) | + |
- Jeffery Danny Dench (1928-2014), English actor, best known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, older brother of actress Judi Dench
- Danny Aiello (1957-2020), American Academy Award nominated stunt performer, stunt coordinator, director, and actor in film and television, known for his roles in Once Upon a time in American, The Purpose Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Harlem Nights, and The Godfather Part II
- Danny Gatton (1945-1994), American guitarist, ranked 63rd on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time
- Danny Wayne Fife (1949-2024), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins in 1973 and 1974, father of Dane Fife
- Danny Wells (1941-2013), stage name of Jack Westelman, a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Charlie, the bartender on The Jeffersons, as well as his role as Luigi in the live-action/animated series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
- Danny Wells (1940-2024), born Daniel Bundy Wells, an American politician, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (2013-2014), (2005-2013)
- Danny Clinch (b. 1964), American photographer and film director
- Danny Goldring (1946-2022), American film, stage and television actor, best known for playing former homicide detective and Tom Kane's childhood friend Ryan Kavanaugh in the television series Boss
- Danny Matthys (b. 1947), Flemish-Belgian visual artist, known as conceptual artist of international reputation
- Danny Qualter (b. 1992), Irish rugby union player from Athlone, whose primary position is as a lock; he currently plays for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro14, son of Séamus Qualter
- 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)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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