Surname Delap - Meaning and Origin
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Delap: What does the surname Delap mean?
The last name Delap is of French origin and is derived from the word "de la" which means "of the". It is a popular surname in France and is found throughout the French speaking world today.
Delap can be found as both a given name and a family name, and is often shortened to Del. It is thought to have originated with Norman French ancestors who moved to England in the 11th century but the history of this name is uncertain.
Although the precise origins of the Delap moniker are unknown, some believe that it is derived from the old German word "leb", meaning "valley" or "domain". This word is found as a component of many old French names.
Delap can thus mean someone who owns land in a certain area, or is associated with a valley or other geographic area, or may refer to those living near a valley.
Either way, the Delap name is very old and historically significant. Notable people with the surname Delap include: Laurent Delap, a French athlete; Jean-Louis Delap, a French lawyer; and Jacques Delap, a French classical scholar.
Order DNA origin analysisDelap: Where does the name Delap come from?
Delap is an Irish surname. It is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Ó Diolún, which means descendant of Diolún. The name is still commonly found today amongst people of Irish descent.
In Ireland, Delap is most prevalent in County Mayo, whose county seat is Castlebar. It is also found in numerous other counties, including Roscommon, Sligo, and Galway. It is a fairly uncommon surname throughout the country, however.
In the United Kingdom, the name is more common. There are more than several thousand people with the last name Delap living there, many of them being immigrants from Ireland. The biggest concentration of the name can be found in England, Wales, and Scotland. The city of Liverpool has the highest number of people with the surname Delap. It is likely that many of them have Irish ancestry.
In the United States, the name is also more commonly found than in Ireland. Many immigrants from Ireland have made their homes in the U.S., meaning that Irish surnames like Delap are more prominent. In the United States, the name is most commonly found in Massachusetts, California, New York, and New Jersey.
Overall, Delap is most common amongst people of Irish descent, both in Ireland and abroad. It is a fairly uncommon surname, however, with only a few thousand people holding the name in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Variations of the surname Delap
The surname Delap is a variant of the Norman French de la Pre or de la Pe, which are derived from pre, meaning a meadow or large tracts of uncultivated land. It is recorded in several spelling variants, including Delapp, Delap, De la Pe, De Lappe, Lape, Delappe, De LaPre and Delep.
In England and Wales, the name Delap is one of the most common spellings of the surname. This spelling increased after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many young Norman Lords were given lands to settle in. Some of these Norman Lords began to be known by the surname 'de la Pre' or 'delap'.
In Ireland, where the surname has its origins, the name is spelled 'Delapp' or 'Delap'. It is most common in County Galway, where it was introduced into the country by the Normans in the 12th century.
The name Delap may also have been derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Deilg, which translates to 'son of the deilg', where deilg means 'a narrow space'.
In Scotland, the surname is found in two distinct forms, Lape and Delap. Lape likely originates from the Middle English word lapper, which means 'a cloth used for wiping'. The Delap form is likely a variant spelling of the Norman French de la pre.
Generally speaking, all of these surnames and spellings are likely to have their origin in the Norman French de la Pre.
Famous people with the name Delap
- Brian Delap: Brian Delap is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He had a successful career and was considered as one of the best players of his generation.
- Hollis Delap: Hollis Delap is a United States Navy Admiral and retired Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
- John Delap: John Delap is a former professional American soccer player. He played for many professional leagues in the United States and Mexico.
- Edward Delap: Edward Delap was an American actor best known for his role in Gone With the Wind.
- Nin Delap: Nin Delap is an artist and professor based in London.
- Sonny Delap: Sonny Delap is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.
- Wayne Delap: Wayne Delap is an Australian football (soccer) player who spent most of his playing career in South Australia.
- Martin Delap: Martin Delap is a former professional American basketball player. He played for many teams in the NBA as well as international teams.
- Mark Delap: Mark Delap is an American rower who competed in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Susan Delap: Susan Delap is an American business executive. She is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Oracle Corporation.