Dacey

Found today in the spellings of Dacey and Daysy, this interesting name is a variant spelling of "Daw", itself a variant form of the old Hebrew "David". Although St. David of the Sixth Century, was extremely popular, it was not until after the Norman Invasion of 1066, that the name became in regular use. However from the 12th Century onwards in it's various guises of Daw(son), Dav(ies), Dav(is), Da(kin), Dea(kin) etc. the "modern" spellings being further examples. Examples of the name with it's "link" spellings include Elizabeth Daisie, christened at the Church of St. Dunstans, Stepney, on January 22nd 1597, Henry Daucy, who married Elizabeth Catcher also at St. Dunstans on April 25th 1626, whilst on June 24th 1726, Ann Dacey was christened at the church of St. Olaves, Southwark, London, she was the daughter of Lomaine and Mercy Dacey, origin unknown. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ales Dawssey, which was dated April 13th 1566, christened at the church of St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.