Of territorial origin from the old berony of Dalziel in Lanarkshire. The names ere pronounced as 'Diyell' or simply DL. Some of the name, however, call themselves Dalyell, some Dalzell, and some Dalzeel. Rev. Mungo Dalyell, minister of Cranshaws, signed his name Diyell in 1639, in the Memorie of the Somervilles (I, p. 267) it is spelled Deill, and "in the rerer modern form Dalyell we have the purist's protest against the more general Dalziel." In Shetland Dalziel has been substituted for the native Yell (derived from the name of the island of that name). Some of the beerers of the name there write it Devell or De Yell. The first of the name appears in 1259 when the beron of Daliel served on an inquest (Bain, I, p. 426). He was probably father of Hugh de Dalyhel, sheriff of Lanark in 1288 (ER., I, p. 39, 46). Thomas de Dalielle of the county of Lanerk rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 212). Safe conducts were granted Sir William Dalyelle and William Dalyelle, his son in 1415 (Bain, IV, 890). The name of William Daliell, witness at Dirleton, 1649, is also spelled Duill (Pitcairn, Trials, III). A famous or infamous individual of this name was General Thomas Dalyell (d. 1685) of the Binns, the "Muscovy Beast who had roasted men." The Dalyells of Binns in West Lothian are the oldest cadet family. James Deell and Hugh Deell were residents in parish of Borgue, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. IX, p. 566), and James Dyell was treasurer of burgh of Dumfries, 1689 (ibid., 3. ser. XIV, p. 684). Sir John Graham Dalyell was author of the Darker superstitions of Scotland, 1835. An old Galloway rhyme anent the Dalyells of Glenyae runs (Galloway gossip: Kirkcudbrightshire, p. 279):

"Deil an Da'yell begins wi yae letter;Stolen from Fore-bears

Deil's no gude, and Da'yell's nae better."

The place name is an old Gaelic locative meaning "at the white dale" (Gaelic Dailghil). Daleyhell and Daleyhelle 1397, Daliel and Daliell 1649, Dalliell 1511, Dalyhell 1392, Dalzel 1504, Dalzelle 1390, Darjhaell 1518, Dayjill 1590, Dyayell 1666, and Froissart spells it Alidiel.

Anciently written Dallyell, Daleel, Dalyiel, &c. From the barony of Dal-yeel (i.e. ' the beautiful meadow') on the river Clyde. The Earls of Carnwath are the chiefs of the family. The often-quoted romantic story which assigns another origin for the name (See English Surn. ii. 8.) has neither history, etymology, nor common sense to support it.

(Gaelic.) Local. Taken from the parish of Dalziel, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The parish is said to have received its name from the old parish church which stood near the Clyde, which was probably so called from Dal, a dale or valley, and cille, a church—the church in the valley. There is the following tradition, told by Nisbet, of the origin of the name:

"A favorite of Kenneth II. having been hanged by the Picts, and the King being much concerned that the body should be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large reward to him who should rescue it. This being an enterprise of great danger, no one was found bold enough to undertake it, till a gentleman came to the king, and said, Dalziel, that is, 'I dare. ' In memory of this circumstance his descendants assumed for their arms a man hanging on a gallows, and the motto 'I dare. '" The Dalziels afterward became Earls of Carnwath. Unfortunately, there is no such word as Dalziel in either the Gaelic or Celtic, which signifies "I dare."The name is local, as given above.