Surname Devy - Meaning and Origin
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Devy: What does the surname Devy mean?
Devy is an ancient family name with Gaelic or Welsh origin, believed to have begun in France prior to the 13th century with a de Valew family. It is speculated that the Devy variation of the name derived from a time when French was spoken in England.
The name is thought to mean "Divine People", a reference to the religious devotion of early generations of the family. It is also believed to refer to a chieftain, as being 'divine' was a common title for leaders and elders at that time.
In the ensuing centuries, the name spread far and wide, with Devys present in the British Isles, France, Russia, Canada, and the United States. During this time, variations of the name evolved, such as Devoe and Davery.
Today, the Devy name is associated with loyalty, strength of character, and strong Christian values. The Devy family continues to be proud of its distinguished heritage and of the many generations of its members who lived lives of integrity, leadership, and caring for others.
Order DNA origin analysisDevy: Where does the name Devy come from?
The last name Devy is quite common in India, particularly in the state of Karnataka. It is also common in Nepal, where it has been used as a surname since the early 19th century. The last name Devy is also popular among descendants of the Devy Rajputs, a clan of warriors who ruled many princely states throughout India in the past.
Outside of India, Devy is also a common surname in France, particularly in Brittany and Normandy. The surname was typically assumed by those who belonged to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitallers, a Catholic military order that was active in the Middle Ages. Additionally, some French aristocrats adopted the Devy surname in the late 1700s as a means of distinguishing themselves.
The last name of Devy is less common in the Americas, as the majority of Devys who settled there had originally come from regions where the surname was rare. However, it is found in some Latin American countries—notably Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela—as well as in the United States. Finally, Devy is also found in Canada, particularly Ontario and Quebec.
Variations of the surname Devy
The Devy surname is a patronymic name, which originated from the ancient Celtic language of Galicia. It is a variation of the Gaelic name Mac Déibhí, which means "son of Déibhí". The Devy surname is most commonly found in Galicia and Ireland. Other variants and spellings of the surname include the following:
McDeevey, MacDeevey, McDee, MacDee, D'Evy, McDevy, MacDevy and MacDevey.
The variant surnames of D'Evy and McDevy are more commonly associated with French descendents, while McDee and MacDee are associated with Irish origin. It is also possible to find spelling variations such as McDevey, O'Devy and O'Deevey.
In Ireland, the Devy surname is most commonly found in the county of Limerick. Other locations where the Devy surname is present include certain areas of Connacht, such as Mayo, Sligo and Galway. Other Irish counties include Kerry, Cork and Kilkenny.
The Devy surname is also very common in the United States. The highest concentration of people bearing the Devy surname can be found in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Devy name is also present in states such as Florida, Illinois and Massachusetts.
The presence of the Devy surname can also be found in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, and England.
Famous people with the name Devy
- Vaibhav Devy: Stand Up Comic
- Jagdish Prasad Devy: Indian Scientist
- Sonal Devy: Indian Actress
- Kunwar Vikram Singh Devy: Indian Politician
- Pratik Devy: Indian Musician
- Sachin Devy: Professional Photographer
- Jagannath Devy: Indian Film Director
- Sudhir Devy: Indian Poet
- Chandrakant Devy: Indian Social Worker
- Meenakshi Devy: Indian Classical Singer
- Maruti Devy: Indian Popular Music Director.
- Anurag Devy: Indian Visual Artist
- Sachin Devy: Indian Cinematographer
- Abhay Devy: Indian Educational Scholar
- Shankar Devy: Indian Actor
- Maganlal Devy: Indian Politician
- Rajkumar Devy: Former Indian CEO of Zoho
- Varshaa Devy: Indian Classical Dancer
- Preeti Devy: Indian Social Activist
- Deepa Devy: Indian Singer/Songwriter.