Deway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Deway

What does the name Deway mean?

Deway is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Deway family lived in Devon. This family was originally from Douai, near Lille, Normandy, and it is from this location that their surname derives.

Early Origins of the Deway family

The surname Deway was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Deway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deway research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Deway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deway Spelling Variations

Endless 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 Dewey, Dewy, Dewye and others.

Early Notables of the Deway family

More information is included under the topic Early Deway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Deway family

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 Deway or a variant listed above: George Dewey who settled in Bristol Rhode Island in 1820; John Dewey settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860; S.L. B.B. and A.T. Dewey and his wife, all arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.