Dailey
What is the origin of the last name Dailey?
Meaning and origin
The origin of the last name Dailey can be traced back to Ireland. Over time, the name Dailey has evolved and spread internationally, often with various spellings and adaptations to suit different languages and cultures.
The longer story
The last name Dailey has its origins in Ireland and Scotland. It is considered to be a variant of the surname O’Dalaigh, which means "descendant of Dalach." The name Dalach is believed to have derived from the word "dail," which means "assembly" or "gathering" in Irish Gaelic.
As a patronymic surname, Dailey indicates that the bearers of the name are descendants of a person named Dalach. Patronymic surnames were commonly used in Ireland to denote the father's name or ancestry. Therefore, those with the surname Dailey can trace their lineage to someone known as Dalach.
The Dailey surname is primarily found in Ireland and Scotland, but it has also spread to other English-speaking countries, including the United States. Irish emigration to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to the widespread adoption of the Dailey name in America.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,072
Dailey was the 1,072nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 32,719 people, about 11 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Dailey
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Dailey is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.