Delahay is an old Norman name whose very form still carries the ring of medieval French.
Where does the Delahay name come from?
Delahay comes from the Norman-French “de la haye,” meaning “of the hedge” or “of the enclosure” — a name for someone who lived beside a notable hedged enclosure or at a place called La Haye. Names of this kind reached these islands after the Norman conquest.
Delahay in Ireland
The name was carried to Ireland by families of Norman descent and settled among the old Anglo-Norman communities of the country. Today, like so many Irish names, it is found both in Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain. As an uncommon name, its story is best followed through the families who carry it.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Delahyde, Delamere, and Barry.
Carry the Delahay name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Delahay collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Delahay an Irish surname?
Delahay is of Norman-French origin and came to Ireland with Anglo-Norman families, becoming part of the country’s long-settled population.
What does Delahay mean?
It comes from “de la haye,” meaning “of the hedge” or enclosure — originally a name for someone who lived by such a place.
Is there a Delahay family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Delahay products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
