Deal

This interesting name is a variant of Dale which is a topographical name deriving from the Middle English 'dale' which traces its roots to the Old English term 'dael' or 'dweller in the valley'. Dale may also be habitational in origin, arising from any of the numerous locations called by this word; as seen in the names of such places as Dalwood (Dorset), Dalham (Kent) and Dawley (Worcestershire). The variant 'Deal' comes from the Kentish form 'del' and is also the name of a place in Kent. Among the sample recordings in London are the marriage of William Deal and Elizabeth Snell on May 12th 1667 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, and the christening of James, son of William and Elizabeth Deal, on July 1st 1692 at St. Giles, Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William en le Dale, which was dated 1318, in the Sheffield Manoral Records, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as 'Edward of Caernafon', 1307 - 1327. 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.