Day Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Day last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Day last name
Meaning of the Day last name: from the medieval name Day (David), or a dairy worker. Day has several sources. In many cases it comes from Day or Dey, medieval pet forms of David. It can also be an occupational name for a dairy worker, from Middle English deie, "dairymaid, servant", a word that also gave "dairy". The name is widespread in southern and eastern England, and frequent in Wales. Fourteenth-century tax lists record many Days in Essex and Suffolk, and the name reached New England early. In the United States the name later also became common in the Midwest.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Day name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Day name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Wales; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The researched Day pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Day coat of arms.
Day name FAQ
What does the Day name mean?
From the medieval name Day (David), or a dairy worker. Common variants include Dey, Daye, Dye.
Where does the Day surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Wales.
Is there a Day coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Day crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Day coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.