Dailey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Dailey is O Dalaigh, from the word “dalach,” which comes from “dail,” which means “assembly.”

Early Origins of the Dailey family

The surname Dailey was first found in the barony of Magheradernon, in County Westmeath and traditionally claim descent from Eanna Ceannselach (Ian Kinsella), King of Leinster. They became Chiefs of Muintir Bhaire in the south west of Cork, and later in the north west of the same county, largely in O’Keefe’s country. A distinct sept was found in Desmond as early as 1165.

“Cuconnachta-na-Scoil O’Daly (or “Cuconnachta of the Schools”) was the first of this family that assumed the surname.” [1]

Early History of the Dailey family

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

Dailey Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. The many regional dialects and the predominate illiteracy would have made common surnames appear unrelated to the scribes of the period. Research into the name Dailey revealed spelling variations, including Daly, Daley, Daylie, Dayley, Dalley, Dailey, Daily, Dailley, Dally, O’Daily, O’Daley and many more.

Early Notables of the Dailey family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Daniel O’Daly (1595-1662), Irish diplomat and historian. He was “a native of Kerry, born in 1595, was member of a branch of an Irish sept which took its name from an ancestor, Dalach, in the twelfth century. His family were among the adherents of the Earl of Desmond, who was attainted for having opposed the government of Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, and was killed there in 1583.

Dailey Ranking

In the United States, the name Dailey is the 1,072^ndmost popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. [3] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dailey is ranked the 612^nd most popular surname with an estimated 74 people with that name. [4]

 Dailey migration to the United States +

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840’s were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Dailey: 

Dailey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Charles Dailey, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 [5]
• Thomas Dailey, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1775 [5]

Dailey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Thomas Dailey, aged 45, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 [5]
• John Dailey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 [5]
• John P Dailey, who arrived in Mississippi in 1838 [5]
• Dennis Dailey, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 [5]
• Hugh Dailey, aged 44, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 [5]

 Dailey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Dailey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Garret Dailey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Morris Dailey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Dailey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Joseph Dailey, who landed in Canada in 1830
• Daniel Dailey, who landed in Canada in 1831

 Dailey migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Dailey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Helen Dailey, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship “Australia”
• Michael Dailey, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship “Henry Moore”

 Dailey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Dailey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Johanna Dailey, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship “Jura” arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Dailey (post 1700) +

• Quintin “Q” Dailey (1961-2010), American professional NBA basketball player
• Peter F. Dailey (1868-1908), American burlesque comedian and singer
• Mary Dailey (1928-1965), American All-American Girls Professional Baseball League utility infielder and pitcher who played in the 1950s
• Irene Dailey (1920-2008), American Daytime Emmy Award winning actress
• Daniel James “Dan” Dailey Jr. (1915-1978), American Golden Globe Award winning and Academy Award nominated dancer and actor
• William Garland “Bill” Dailey (b. 1935), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1961 through 1964
• Albert Dailey (1939-1984), American jazz pianist
• Mark Dailey (1953-2010), American-born, Canadian television journalist and announcer
• Janet Anne Haradon Dailey (b. 1944), American author, known for her numerous romance novels
• John R. Dailey (b. 1934), retired United States Marine Corps four-star general, current director of the National Air and Space Museum