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Irish surname

Delaney: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Dubhshláine · 'descendant of Dubhshláine' or 'Dubhshláinge' (Black of the Slaney)

Delaney is an anglicised form of Ó Dubhshláine (also Ó Dubhshláinge), which Woulfe (1923) explains as 'Black of the Slaney'. He describes a numerous family in Leix (Laois), formerly chiefs of Coill Uachtarach, now Upperwoods, at the foot of Slieve Bloom. In the 1890 births index the name was found mainly in Dublin, Queen's County (Laois), Tipperary and Kilkenny.

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Coat of arms associated with the Delaney surname
Irish formÓ Dubhshláine
Meaning'descendant of Dubhshláine' or 'Dubhshláinge' (Black of the Slaney)
CountiesLaois, Dublin, Tipperary, Kilkenny
Other spellings5

Origin of the Delaney name

Woulfe: a numerous family in Leix (Co. Laois), who were formerly chiefs of Coill Uachtarach, now Upperwoods, at the foot of Slieve Bloom.[1]

  1. 1686Patrick Delany, later Dean of Down and friend of Swift, born.[3]
  2. 1744Patrick Delany made Dean of Down (May).[3]
  3. 1768Dean Delany dies at Bath, 6 May; buried at Glasnevin.[3]
  4. 1890158 Delaney/Delany birth entries; 97 of them in Leinster.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. LaoisWoulfe's 'Leix': chiefs of Upperwoods below Slieve Bloom; Matheson's 'Queen's' County in 1890.[1][2]
Co. DublinFirst-named county for Delaney/Delany birth entries in 1890.[2]
Co. TipperaryA principal county for the name in 1890.[2]
Co. KilkennyA principal county for the name in 1890.[2]

Notable people named Delaney

Rev. Patrick Delany1686–1768Dean of Down, preacher and writer; friend of Swift; gathered a 'brilliant circle' at Delville, Glasnevin.[3]

Other spellings

Delany · Deleany · O'Dowlaney · O Dowlaney · O Dulany[1][2]

The Delaney coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Delaney surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Delaney crest gifts

Clan Delaney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap IA37 Delaney Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Delaney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Delaney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapMH39 Classic Cap - Delaney Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Delaney Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Delaney surname: questions

What does the surname Delaney mean?

Woulfe gives Delaney as an anglicised form of Ó Dubhshláine or Ó Dubhshláinge, 'descendant of Dubhshláine', which he explains as 'Black of the Slaney'.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Delaney name from?

From Co. Laois (Woulfe's 'Leix'). Woulfe says the family were formerly chiefs of Coill Uachtarach, now Upperwoods, at the foot of Slieve Bloom.[1]

Is it Delaney or Delany?

Both. Woulfe lists Delaney, Delany and Deleany among the forms of the name, and the 1890 births index counted 93 Delaney and 65 Delany entries.[1][2]

Is Delaney Irish?

Yes. Woulfe gives it as an anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Dubhshláine, a Laois family.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Dubhshláine — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhshlaine.php
  2. Delaney — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/delaney.php
  3. Delany, Patrick — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/PatrickDelany.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).