This interesting surname of Irish origin is derived from O Duibhghiolla, the prefix "O" meaning "descendant of", "dubh", "black" plus "giolla", "lad". Families of this name all originated in County Galway, and in Britain there are a large number of Deeleys in Birmingham. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Deely, Dealey, Dealy, etc.. The surname dates back to the mid 16th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Elizabeth Deeley who married Godfrey Willies on November 19th 1573, in Birmingham. William Dealey was christened at St. Andrew's church, Holborn, on December 11th 1626, and Sarah, daughter of William and Lucy Deeley, was christened in London on December 21st 1677. Eleanor, daughter of Michael and Eleanor MacDaniel Deeley, was christened at St. Mary's church, Limerick, Ireland on August 3rd 1780. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Baldwin Deeley married Margareta Rawlens, which was dated 1566, in Birmingham, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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