Delieu

Recorded in several spellings including Lieu, Lieux, de Lieu, Delieu, Delue, Dulieu, and probably others, this is a surname of French origins. In England it is Huguenot refugee, and has long been recorded in the British Isles, where earlier recordings are to be found, than in the mother country. The reason for that is simple. During the French Revolution of 1792, the churches were closed down, and almost all records destroyed or scatered as being tools of the hated secret police. It is said that the surname originates in Brittany. This was one of the main centres of Huguenot resistance, and as such provided a large proportion of the emigrants to Britain. The name is locational and derives from the town of Lieu, the name itself actually meant "town" in the pre medieval times. It is possible that the refugees in most cases meant their surnames to be "Lieu" but in the confusion of entry into England would have instinctively given "du Lieu" meaning from Lieu as their former home. This then became their surname. Examples of the recordings include Cicille DeLieu the daughter of Adrien and Anne Delieu christened at Conde sur L'Escaut, Departement de Nord, France, on February 11th 1667, Jean Dulieu, christened at the French Huguenot Church, Threadneedle Street, London, on October 25th 1696, and John Delieu, son of John, christened at St Leonards Church, Shoreditch, on August 13th 1787. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Abraham Delue.This was dated February 12th 1637, when he was christened at St Margaret Pattens, in the city of London, during the reign of King Charles 1st, known as "The Martyr" 1625 - 1649. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.