Surname Dease - Meaning and Origin

Dease: What does the surname Dease mean?

The last name Dease is a traditional Irish surname, specifically of the Ó Deasa family. It originally comes from the Irish and Gaelic phrase "Ó Deasa", meaning "descendant of Desa". This phrase can be found on many historic monuments and gravestones in Ireland, stemming from the 11th century.

Historically, O Deasa was a powerful family descended from the Donaghmore Uí Néill clans, this line originating from one of the four sons of the high king of Ireland, Niall Glúndub. The Dease family were known to be warriors from the ancient Irish Kingdoms of Hy Kinselagh and Uí Fhearghail in Donegal and Sligo.

The Dease family were granted a coat of arms in the 16th century by King Henry VII, indicating a prosperous family with status. This emblem is composed of a blue shield supporting a golden lion, flanked by a green figure typically referred to as an ‘armour.’ The meaning of this crest is interpreted as a sign of strength, loyalty and success, referring to the family’s legacy as warriors and strivers.

Today, Dease is still a common last name in Ireland and many other countries. It is often associated with works of literature and the arts, as well as strong ties to music and culture of the Irish people.

Dease: Where does the name Dease come from?

The last name Dease is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is often attributed to Irish immigrants who migrated to North America after the Irish famine of the 1840s and 1850s.

In the United States, the states with the largest populations of people with the Dease surname are Illinois, Texas, New York, California, and, surprisingly, Alaska. Illinois is by far the leader with over 1,500 people reported to have the Dease name.

In the Canada, the largest concentration of Dease's can be found in the province of Ontario followed closely by the province of Quebec. In fact, due to the heavy concentration of Irish immigrants in these provinces in the 19th century, it is estimated that as many as 10 percent of Quebec residents have the Dease name.

The Dease name can also be found in other countries such as Australia, Germany, and Scotland. It is a very unusual surname, but its popularity and prevalence in North America help to explain why such a unique name has become so widespread.

Variations of the surname Dease

The surname Dease has several variants, spellings, and surnames which are derived from the same origin. These include Dease, Deas, Deasey, Deasy, Deeson, Deson, Deisen, Deezen, Deesen, and even Dysen. The origin of the surname is quite unclear, although most researchers agree that it originated in Britain.

The surname likely has a Celtic origin, derived from the ancient tribal name of the Deisi who trace their ancestry to the old Irish kingdom of Uí Duibh Deise. This tribe is known to have settled in parts of the modern counties of Mayo and Galway. The surname is still present in these areas, and is also found in many other parts of Ireland and Britain.

The origin of the surname is still contested by some scholars. For example, some believe that it may be derived from an Old Welsh name, Dyrysies, meaning ‘one who is wise’. It could also be derived from the French Deise or D'Eyses, which is a compound name derived from the French first name Deus and suffixes such as –eys, –ais or –ies.

The alternate spellings of the surname Dease may also come from other sources. For example, the –son or –sen suffix found in Deeson or Deesen, could have come from the Anglo-Saxon influence that was present in Britain during the Middle Ages, with these suffixes likely originating from ‘son of’ constructions. The spelling Deasy could originate from Irish Gaelic Mac an Deas or ‘son of the south’.

In conclusion, the surname Dease is quite mysterious and its origin is still contended. There are a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin which include Dease, Deas, Deasey, Deasy, Deeson, Deson, Deisen, Deezen, Deesen, and Dysen.

Famous people with the name Dease

• Tony Dease: professional American football tight end who played for the Tennessee Titans.
• Francis Dease: Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Meath from 1574 to 1582.
• Ralph Dease: American scholar of African religion and African-American history who served as a professor of Comparative Religions at Howard University.
• Oswald Dease: Canadian soldier and chaplain who was the first Canadian soldier to be killed in action in the First World War.
• Father William Dease: Canadian Roman Catholic priest and a noted travel writer who served in the Great Lakes region in the 1800s.
• Erin Dease: Professional dancer, choreographer, and actress who has appeared in a number of Broadway productions.
• Williamstown Dease: retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League.
• Lyle Dease: American professional basketball player who was part of the Brooklyn Nets franchise, playing both guard and forward in the early 1970s.
• Christopher Dease: Italian historian and professor emeritus at the University of Padova, where he specialized in the Middle Ages and Renaissance literature.
• Asiasi Dease: American professional football player and a tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Other surnames

Deasy