Recorded as Deeney, Deeny, Denny, and Denney, this surname has four quite distinct possible origins. The first of these is English and Scottish and an example of a surname created from a personal name. In this case, the development is from the personal name Denis or Dennis, which itself derives from the Greek "Dionysus", meaning 'The follower'. This is a name was introduced into Europe by the returning Crusaders and pilgrims to the Holy Land in the 12th century. It was given to a son in honour of his fathers visit. The second source is Scottish locational, from the town of Denny in the former county of Stirlingshire, and the third source is also locational but from England, this time from the village of Denry in Cambridgeshire. The derivation of this village name is from the Olde English pre 7th Century Dene, meaning Dane and -eg, an island to give Dane's Island. Lastly the name can be Irish from the Gaelic 'duibhane' meaning disagreeable!. As such the surname is most recored in the province of Ulster. Amongst the many recordings is that of sisters Bridget and Margaret Denney who emigrated to America on the ship "Windsor Castle" to escape from the ravages of the "Potato Famine" of 1846 - 1848. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes Denny. This was dated 1379, in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls, during the reign of King Richard 11, known as Richard of Bordeaux, 1377 - 1399. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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