Devitt

This interesting surname is of Irish origin, and is an Anglicized form of "MacDaibheid", which means Son of David", derived from the Hebrew male given name David, "beloved". The given name has always been popular among the Jewish people, in honour of the biblical king of this name, the greatest of the early kings of Israel. The popularity of the name was increased in Britain, firstly, because it was the name of the patron saint of Wales, and secondly, because it was borne by two kings of Scotland, King David 1 (1124 - 1153) and King David 11 (1329 - 1371). The name was probably introduced into Ireland from Britain. The first recording of David as a surname was of one Robert David in the Hundred Rolls of Leicestershire in 1278. Other Irish forms of the name include: (Mac) David, (Mac) Deuitt, (Mac) Davitt and Taaffe. The christening was recorded in London of John, son of William and Eleanor Dade, on February 21st 1741 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alys Dad (marriage to Thomas Awnsell), which was dated May 4th 1544, in St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Good King Hal", 1509 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.