Surname Delahunty - Meaning and Origin
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Delahunty: What does the surname Delahunty mean?
Delahunty is a surname of Irish origin. The name is derived from the Irish "Ó Dulchaointigh", made up of two parts - "Ó" meaning "descendant of" and "Dulchaointigh" meaning "brave warrior". This is a classic example of an Irish surname, which originated as a way to distinguish one family from another.
The Delahuntys were a prominent Gaelic family in early Irish history and were descended from an ancient chieftain from Coolee in the province of Munster. The Delahuntys were renowned for their strength in battle and are believed to have come to prominence during the period of the Celtic invasion when their ancestor was made lord of the region.
After the Norman conquest of the island, the Delahuntys held a place of distinction and were appointed governors of the district that was the ancestral seat of their family. For several centuries, the Delahuntaighs played an important role in Irish politics and held multiple lordships in what is now County Cork.
The Delahuntys were also known for being active in the struggles for Irish independence. During the Easter Rising of 1916, six members of this family volunteered and fought for Irish freedom. During the War of Independence, the Delahuntys were also active in the rebel forces as did many other Irish clans.
Overall, the name Delahunty is a proud one that speaks of an ancient and noble Irish line. As such, today this name can be found in various English-speaking countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisDelahunty: Where does the name Delahunty come from?
The surname Delahunty is an Anglicized form of the old Irish name O'Deilighonntaigh. It is believed to have originated from a 12th century chief who lived in the county of Kerry, southwest Ireland. It is an important sept of the Corca Laoidhe tribe related to the O'Sullivan clan.
Since then, the surname has spread around the world, particularly to the United States, Australia and the UK in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is most common today in the republic of Ireland, with a higher concentration in County Kerry. It is estimated that there are around 1500 people with the surname in Ireland.
Outside of Ireland, the surname is most likely to be found in Australia where it is estimated that there are around 1000 people with the surname. It is also seen in the United States, where it has been more widely dispersed due to the vast amounts of Irish migration that took place in the 19th century. The United Kingdom also has a large population of Delahunny surnames, estimated to be around 1500 individuals.
The Delahunty surname is a proud testament to the rich history of Ireland and the Irish people who have spread their names and heritage across the world.
Variations of the surname Delahunty
The surname Delahunty is derived from the Gaelic 'O' De grief, meaning 'descendant of the brehon'. Brehon was an ancient Celtic law-maker. The Delahunty surname can have numerous variations in spelling and pronunciation, including O Delahunty, O'Delahunty, O'Dilhuney, DeLahunty, Delahunt, O'Delahunt, O'Delahant, and O'Dilhanty.
It is likely that when people with the surname emigrated, their name may have been altered to fit the language or country they moved to. In the US, common spelling variations of Delahunty include Delahanty, Delahanty, Dellahanty, O' Dellahanty, Dilhanty, Dilahunty, and D'Lahunty. In Ireland records can also be found under variants such as MacDilhuney, DeLehuney, O'Delahawny, and O'Dulhuney
In England common spellings of the name are Delahunt, Dellahunt, and Dallahunty. In Scotland, spellings may include O' Delahuney and McDelahuney.
In Australia and New Zealand, Delahunty can appear as Delahanty, Dellahanty, or Dellahunty.
Surnames related to Delahunty include Kiddell, Kilhuney, Dilhuney, Delhuney, and Delhunty. These names do not always mean direct descent, but can refer to any families or clans associated with Delahunty.
Other variants of the name are O Dilhuney, which is more common in the UK and Ireland; Delhunte, found in South New England documents; and Dallahunty, which is found in some American states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas and Delaware.
In addition, there is a French version of the name – Delahunte – as well as an Italian version, Dellahunty, and a Spanish version, Delahunty.
Famous people with the name Delahunty
- Ben Delahunty: British actor and screenwriter known for his roles in Hollyoaks, Red Cap, and Doctors.
- Joe Delahunty: Australian former rules footballer who has also worked as a gym teacher and landscape gardener.
- Carolyne Delahunty: Irish athlete who represented Ireland in the 2010 European Senior Championships in Athletics.
- Harry Delahunty: English rugby union player who captained Leicester Tigers and represented England in the 1935 Five Nations Championship.
- Pamela Delahunty: English artist who worked as a fashion illustrator and printmaker, designing fashion plates for the Illustrated London News.
- Mairin Delahunty: Irish actress and writer, best known for her role in the 2018 film A Date for Mad Mary.
- Dermot Delahunty: Irish former Gaelic footballer who captained Limerick GAA and represented Ireland in the International Rules Series.
- James Delahunty: Canadian former ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks in the 1970s.
- Mark Delahunty: American basketball player who won the NCAA Division II National Championship with the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers in 1986.
- Evan Delahunty: New Zealand rugby union player who represented the Manawatu Turbos in the Mitre 10 Cup.