DEVOY
Recorded variant spellings include De Voy, De'Voy, De'voy, De-Voy, de Voy
Devoy is an Irish surname that has long been associated with Gaelic heritage in the British Isles. The name is a direct derivation from the Gaelic Ó Dubhthaigh, denoting a descendant of Dubhthach. In the original Gaelic, dubh means black or dark, and thach translates to chief or lord, so the surname can be understood as descendant of the dark chief or descendant of the black lord.
Historical records trace the surname back to medieval Ireland, where it was linked to the sept of Leix. Members of the O'Devoy clan were regarded as lords of Creamhlhain, now known as Maryborough, and the dynasty was one of the original seven septs of that region. The name was recorded in documents of the period as Deevy, O'Devy, O'Dyvoy, and O'Dyvoie. A notable bearer of the name was John Devoy (1842–1928), an original Fenian who played a prominent role in the struggle for Irish independence.
While the surname is fundamentally Gaelic, evidence shows it was also subject to Anglo‑Norman influence, especially in the Anglicised spelling of O'Devoy (circa 1550) from the older O'Dubhuidhe. The earliest concrete attestation of the name is found in the will of Edmund Divey (alias Devoy) dated 1681 at Smithstown in County Kilkenny, during the reign of King Charles XI.
Dispersal of the Devoy name beyond its Irish roots occurred over several centuries. The surname remains common in Ireland, chiefly in County Kilkenny and other parts of Munster, and has also established a presence in England, Scotland, Canada, Australia and the United States. In the United States, concentrations are notable in California and New York; in England the name is especially frequent in London.
Over time, the Devoy surname has been linked with a strong sense of community, loyalty, and perseverance. These traits are reflected in the numerous public monuments and memorials erected in honour of notable family members, both in Ireland and abroad. The legacy of the Devoy family is preserved through these commemorations, underscoring the name’s enduring historical significance in the British Isles and the wider world.
Typical given names associated with the Devoy surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Kenneth
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Angela
- Barbara
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Donna
- Elizabeth
- Hazel
- Joanne
- Julie
- Mary
- Maureen
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Daffey
- Daffy
- Davay
- Davey
- Daviey
- Davy
- Davye
- Deavey
- Deavy
- Deevey
- Deevoy
- Deevy
- Defay
- Defaye
- Deffey
- Defoy
- Dephy
- Dev
- Devay
- Devayya
- Devey
- Devo
- Devoe
- Devois
- Devor
- Devot
- Devoys
- Devvy
- Devy
- Devyea
- Diffey
- Diffy
- Divey
- Divya
- Doffey
- Doovey
- Dovey
- Dovy
- Dufay
- Dufaye
- Dufey
- Duffay
- Duffey
- Duffiey
- Duffy
- Dufoy
- Dufy
- Duvey
- Taffey
- Tafoya
- Tavey
- Teaffey
- Teefey
- Teefy
- Tevey
- Tivey
- Tivy
- Toovey
- Toovy
- Tovey
- Tovy
- Tuffey
- Tuffy
- Tuvey
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Devoy in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 663 people named Devoy in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around ten in a million people in Britain are named Devoy.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
