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Delany Family History
Ó Dubhshláine - anglicised Delany and Delaney, meaning 'black, of the river Slaney'.
Ó Dubhláin - meaning perhaps 'black challenge' has also been anglicised as Delany and Delaney, according to Woulfe in 'Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall' or 'Irish Names and Surnames' (1923).
The name Delane is found in Co Mayo; MacLysaght treats this as an abbreviated form of Delaney ('The Surnames of Ireland', 1985 et al), although it may stand for Ó Dalláin.
Delaney was recorded early in the barony of Galmoy in Co Kilkenny, and Ossory in Laois, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
These would be the origins of Irish Delaneys and probably the majority of Delaneys anywhere, in fact, through Irish immigration.
In Sir William Petty's 'Census' of 1659, the name occurs as a 'Principal Irish Name' in:
Co Kilkenny (all figures are for families)
Gowran Barony, Dulany (12); Fassagh Deinin, Dulany (23); Skillellogher, Dulany (6); Crannagh, Dulany (17).
Co Laois
Ossory Barony, Dullany (86); Upper Ossory, Dullany (66); Cullenagh, Dullany (19).
Co Kerry
there is a listing for O Dulinge, which would be the transplanted Ó Dúnlaing sept, who also came from Co Laois. This name is usually anglicised as Dowling].
By the time of Griffith's 'Primary Valuation' (1847-64) Delany is the most common spelling, and households were found in counties Laois (727) Kilkenny (259) and Tipperary (214).
Delaney registers lower numbers: Laois (18) Offaly (7) etc.
In the Registrar General's Report on births in 1890 Delan(e)y is the most common entrant for Co Laois.
DELANEY/DELANY of French Origin
There is also a distinct name of French origin, Delaunay (De l'Aunay), Delaney, Delany & c. which is found in several parts of France. This would be the origin of some families in Britain; though it is likely that many Delaneys there too would be of 19th century Irish immigrant stock. The French name means - 'of the alder grove'. The reduced variants Daunay and Dawnay are also found in Britain.
Two famous Delaneys:
Edward Delaney (1930-2009) Mayo born sculptor.
Arthur K. Delaney (1841-1905) Alaskan politician.
