Dyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Dyer

What does the name Dyer mean?

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Dyer family in Ireland was Ó Duibhir and Mac Duibhir. These are both derived from the words dubh, which means black, and odhar or uidhir, which means uncolored. 1 Another source has a slightly different explanation: "Descendant of the dark, tawny man; grandson of Dubhodhar (black Odhar)." 2 And yet another notes: "Said to be the Gaelic do-ire, a woody uncultivated place." 3

Early Origins of the Dyer family

The surname Dyer was first found in County Tipperary where they were the traditional Lords of Kilnamanagh. They claim descent from Cairbre Cluitheachar, the youngest son of Cucorb, King of Leinster through the O'Connors (Faley.) 4

Although the O'Dwyers originally held a family seat in the barony of Kilnamanagh, they later branched to Clonyhorpa and Drumdromy in the same county. The eponymous ancestor of the O'Dwyers was Duibhir (sometimes spelled Duibhidir and Dubhiir), 4 the 11th century chief of the sept. Without the prefix Mac, Dyer is mainly found in Cos. Sligo and Roscommon. 5

Early History of the Dyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dyer research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1473, 1798, 1842, 1916 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Dyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dyer Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Dyer are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Dwyer, O'Dwyer, Dwire, Dwier, Dyer and others.

Early Notables of the Dyer family

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

Dyer World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dyer is the 560^th most popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dyer is ranked the 808^th most popular surname with an estimated 50 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Dyer is the 529^th popular surname with an estimated 7,315 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Dyer as 406^th with 1,620 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Dyer as 408^th with 15,940 people. 10

Dyer migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Dyer or a variant listed above:

Dyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mary Dyer (circa 1611-1660) was an English-born American Quaker, she was banished, arrested and eventually hanged for the crime of being a Quaker in Massachusetts
John Dyer, who arrived in Virginia in 1622-1623 11
John Dyer, aged 28, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "The Christian" in 1634 11
Abigail Dyer who settled in Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1630
George Dyer, aged 51, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliz Dyer, who landed in Virginia in 1704 11
Jeffery Dyer, who landed in Virginia in 1706 11
Cornelius Dyer, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 11
Eliz Catherina Dyer, aged 32, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 11
Maria Dyer, aged 52, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel Dyer, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1812 11
Samuel Dyer, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1812 11
John B Dyer, who landed in Mississippi in 1848 11
Patrick Dyer, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1849 11
Patrick Dyer, who arrived in New York in 1849
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Richard J. Dyer, (b. 1851), aged 49, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th February 1900 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 12
Mr. Nicholas Dyer, (b. 1875), aged 26, Cornish miller travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 27th March 1901 en route to New York, USA 12
Miss Annie Dyer, (b. 1883), aged 20, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 22nd August 1903 en route to Osceola, Michigan, USA 12
Mr. Richard Dyer, (b. 1882), aged 22, Cornish miller travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 22nd September 1904 en route to Baltic, Michigan, USA 12
Miss Ada Dyer, (b. 1881), aged 23, Cornish tailoress travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 22nd September 1904 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 12

Dyer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dyer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Dyer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Thomas Dyer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Martha Dyer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. William Dyer U.E., "Dyre" who settled in Canada c. 1784 13
Mr. Abraham Dykeman U.E. born in Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Dyer, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Legatus" from London, England
Mr. John Dyer, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 14
Alida Dyer, who arrived in Quebec in 1870 as one of the "Home Children" from Britain

Dyer migration to Australia +

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

Dyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Matilda Dyer, (b. 1776), aged 34, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for assault, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. William Dyer, (b. 1804), aged 16, British Convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1826 16
Mr. William Dyer, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
John Dyer, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Henry Dyer(b. 1771), aged 54, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 21st March 1825, sentenced for 7 years for stealing iron and rope from Josiah Randall, transported aboard the ship "Sesostris" on 23rd November 1825 to New South Wales, Australia 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer 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:

Dyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dyer, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1837 20
Mr. Joseph Dyer, (b. 1811), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 21
Mrs. Dyer, (b. 1814), aged 25, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 21
Sophia Elizabeth Dyer, aged 30, a dressmaker, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
Miss Sophia E Dyer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dyer 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. 22

Dyer Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

Edward, Roger Sarah and Thomas Dyer, who settled in Barbados in the 17th century

Contemporary Notables of the name Dyer (post 1700) +

Richard M. Dyer (1941-2024), American music critic who specialized in classical music, the chief classical music critic of The Boston Globe
Wayne Walter Dyer (1940-2015), American self-help author and motivational speaker, best known for his first book Your Erroneous Zones (1976) which sold over 35 million copies
James Michael Mark Dyer (1930-2014), American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem from 1982 to 1995
Captain Jesse Farley Dyer (1877-1955), American Medal of Honor recipient
Mike Dyer (b. 1966), American Major League Baseball player
Eliphalet Dyer (1721-1807), American jurist
John Hugh "Buddy" Dyer (b. 1958), Florida State Senator and mayor of Orlando
Mr. William George Ernest Dyer, British alderman, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1964 to 1965, he was Lord Mayor in 1969
Geoffrey Dyer (1947-2020), Australian artist from Hobart, Tasmania, recipient of the Archibald Prize in 2003
Gwynne Dyer (b. 1943), Canadian journalist, syndicated columnist and military historian
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dyer family +

Halifax Explosion

Miss Ruth L. Dyer (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23

HMS Repulse

Mr. Frank Dyer, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 24
Mr. John S Dyer, British Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 24
Mr. George C Dyer, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 24

HMS Royal Oak

Henry Dyer (1894-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 25

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Dyer, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 26
Mr. Robert Dyer, American 2nd Class passenger from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 27

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Dyer (d. 1912), aged 31, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 28
Mr. Henry Ryland Dyer (d. 1912), aged 24, English Senior Assistant 4th Engineer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 28

SS Southern Cross

Mr. Patrick Dyer (1895-1914), Newfoundlander from Logy Bay who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

Victoria steamboat disaster

Bertie Dyer, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881
Margaret Dyer, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881
W. H. Dyer, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The Dyer 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: Vertus sola nobilitas
Motto Translation: Virtue alone enobles

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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. 27)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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
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
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html