Some people think my last name is funny. I was teased about it from time to time in school, some store clerks chuckle when I give them my credit card, and I had one bank teller who didn’t believe it was a real name. Anyway, here’s some background info.
I. From Alan Dearlove
The family name of Dearlove and all its variants is derived from two old english words “dierne” meaning “secret” and “lufu” meaning love. The earliest currently recorded version of the name is from the 1206 records of Yorkshire taxes paid to King John. William Derneluue paid 10 shillings and 4 pence as a merchant tax and 4 pence as an individual tax.
Since that time until the present day the Dearloves have survived in Yorkshire, and emigrating throughout the new world. One of the Dearloves was in the first 20,000 to arrive in Virginia, US in the early 1600′s.
II. From Edwin Dearlove
The surname Dearlove was a nickname or an expression of affection. The name was found in Yorkshire, England six centuries ago, and it has been represented there since that time.
The first mention we have found to date is in the York Public Library where there is a reference in the Surname reference section of the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, dated 1275. At this time it was spelt as Dernlof. There is also a further entry spelt Dernelof in the Wakefield County Rolls in 1379. Dernelof survives today as Dearlove which has usually been interpreted as a straight forward complimentary name similar to Truelove.
III. Famous Dearloves
Sir Richard Dearlove: Former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service
Richard Dearlove: British DJ who goes by the name Diddy
Mark Dearlove: 19th Century Violin maker
my great grandmother was a dearlove in york yorkshire england, so yet another link to your past.
hello.
Other branches of the Dearlove family exist in London and (my own branch) Berkshire, England. Some of these emigrated to Vancouver, Canada and Laramie, Wy. USA at the turn of the last century. are you descended from them? Currently expanding the family tree (as I know it) any extra information would be very welcome.
Stephen Dearlove.