Place of Birth

Florida
Tribal Affiliation

Yamasee/Seminole
Surname Heritage

England / Ireland

Day History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

All Irish surnames have a unique and often romantic meaning. The name Day originally appeared in Gaelic as O Deaghaidh or O Diaghaidh.

Early Origins of the Day family

The surname Day was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where O’Dea was chief of Dysart-O’Dea, now the parish of Dysart, barony of Inchiquin, one of the original chiefs and clans of ancient Thomond. Today Dysert O’Dea Castle still stands near Corofin, County Clare with its Romanesque Doorway and High Cross and was the site of the Battle of Dysert O’Dea in 1318. It was here that the Irish chieftain Conor O’Dea, chief of the Cineal Fearmaic and ally of Murtough O’Brien, stood his ground only to be defeated by the invading forces from Scotland.

Early History of the Day family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Day research.

Day Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person’s name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual’s name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name Day revealed many variations, including Day, Dea, O’Dea and others.

Early Notables of the Day family (pre 1700)

Notable among the family name at this time was Most Rev. Thomas O’Dea; and Cornelius O’Dea (d. 1434), Archdeacon of Killaloe and later Bishop of Limerick. Three items of his have survived over the centuries: his Mitre, Crozier and a manuscript now entitled “The Black Book of Limerick.” Today, they are all kept in Limerick’s Hunt Museum. “According to a legend Bishop Cornelius O’Dea went to Dublin to attend a synod of bishops.

Day World Ranking

In the United States, the name Day is the 245^th most popular surname with an estimated 106,941 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Day is ranked the 388^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,025 people with that name. [2] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Day is the 125^th popular surname with an estimated 290 people with that name. [3] France ranks Day as 9,596^th with 500 – 1,000 people. [4] Australia ranks Day as 127^thwith 21,115 people. [5] New Zealand ranks Day as 198^th with 2,818 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Day as 124^th with 40,173 people. [7]

Day migration to the United States +

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name Day:

Day Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Day, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship “London Merchant” [8]
Mrs. Mary Day, aged 28, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship “Elizabeth” [8]
Robert Day, aged 30, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship “Elizabeth” [8]
Richard Day, aged 32, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Plain Joan” [8]
Miss Hannah Day, (b. 1615), aged 20, British maid to the Jeoffries family travelling from London, England aboard the ship “Elizabeth and Anne” arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 [9]

Day Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Day, who arrived in Virginia in 1701-1702 [8]
Martha Day, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [8]
Robert Day, who arrived in America in 1764 [8]
Andrew Day, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 [8]

Day Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Redmond Day, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 [8]
Gabriel Day, who arrived in New York in 1835 [8]
Joseph Day, who landed in New York in 1836 [8]
Botheny Day, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1839 [8]
William Day, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1845 [8]

Day migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: