Surname Delany - Meaning and Origin
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Delany: What does the surname Delany mean?
The last name Delany is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Dubhshláine, a patronymic of the Old Celtic personal name Dubshláine, which translates to English as "Strong Defiance". This likely indicates that the original ancestor of the Delany name was a strong-willed, resilient individual.
The Delany clan is thought to descend from Anmchadh Ó Dubhshláine, a 12th century chieftain and patron of the arts. He and his descendants occupied a large swath of land in the Leinster province of Ireland for many centuries. The region is known as the Delany Country and contains many castles and other sites of historical interest.
The Delany name has spread far beyond its roots in Ireland and stands as a testament to the strength and determination of a small band of people who have managed to survive and even thrive in spite of severe hardships. Those bearing the name today can be proud of their ancestors’ fortitude and take strength from it for any challenges they may face.
Order DNA origin analysisDelany: Where does the name Delany come from?
The last name Delany is mainly most prevalent in English-speaking countries today. It is particularly popular in the United States, with more than 14,300 people bearing the name. It is also found in some African nations, as well as in the Republic of Ireland.
In the US, the last name Delany is most prominent in the state of California, where it ranks as the 229th most common surname. It is also popular in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. In 2020, more than 45,000 people living in the United States carried the last name Delany.
In Ireland, the last name Delany is the 439th most common name. It is most commonly found in the province of Dublin, where it ranks 231st in popularity. Cong, is the Counties of Cork and Kerry, are also places where the name is found in some numbers.
In Africa, the last name Delany is mainly popular in Uganda, where it is the 4th most common name. It is also found in Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Overall, the last name Delany appears to be more popular in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and Ireland. It is also popular in some parts of Africa too.
Variations of the surname Delany
The surname Delany is commonly known by its variants and spellings Delaney, Delaney, DeLany, D'Lany, O'Delany, O'Delaney, and O'Lany. The surname Delany was originally an Irish surname introduced into Britain by settlers from Ireland, specifically within the province of Connacht. The clan of Delany originates from the Celtic name of Ó Dubhshláin which roughly translates to dark challenge.
The 802 people bearing the surname Delany can be found in various parts of Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the predominance of Delany is in Ireland. However, the largest concentration of people bearing the name can be found in the United States. Up until early 19th century, most people bearing the surname belonged to the Clan O'Delany as most moved to the United States. In the United States, most of the 1,342 people bearing the surname Delany are found in New York, Texas and Illinois.
Variations in spelling the name can be attributed to the various dialects among the Irish speaking population and to the differences in spellings used by the English speaking population. Most of the variants are still used today, with advances in technology, genealogists have been able to track families which share the same surname but have different variants in their spellings.
Alternate spelling variations of the name Delany have also been generated over the years, these include: Dellany, Dallany, D'Lany, Dalaney, Delanyne, and Delony.
Famous people with the name Delany
- Daniel Delany: Irish Bishop and theologian who was the founder of a school in Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Mary-Louise Parker: American actress well known for her roles in such projects as Weeds, Angels in America, RED 2, and The West Wing
- Kathy Delany: Australian author, best known for her picture books and young adult novels
- John Delany: American playwright, actor, and film director who wrote and directed a number of plays
- Aidy Delany: Irish television presenter, comic and actor who starred in Irish soap operas including Fair City and Red Rock
- Billy Delany: British comedian, writer and actor who starred in several comedy sketch shows and is half of the double act Delaney and MacIntyre
- Tuppence Delany: English singer, dancer and actress who had many musical theatre roles including Mamma Mia, High Society and Cats
- Pat Delany: Australian rugby league player who represented Australia in the 1978 World Cup final
- Evelyn Delany: American biochemist and scientific pioneer who was the first woman to be elected to the American Chemical Society
- Brendan Delany: American independent filmmaker, writer and director whose films include Masculinity, Yelwa and Kingdom Come