In researching Irish records I note that in a number of cases the surnames Dale and Deal are both the same people. Dale and Deal were pronounced the same way--like stake and steak or brake and break and therefore were recorded depending on the spelling preference of the recorder. An "S" was often added so you can have a John Deals baptising a James Deal and a Sarah Dale and then being finally buried as John Dales.

I descend from Dales from County Derry and have just submitted my DNA for analysis. Family legend suggests that the Dale/Deal/Dales of Ireland all descend from four Dale brothers who came to Ireland from Ayrshire ca 1690 and fanned out to Derry, Down, Armagh, and Antrim.

I would be interested in contacting any Dale descendents who trace back to Ireland and am particularly interested in any who have had their DNA done or who are anticipating having it done,

Ron Dale