This uncommon and interesting surname, recorded in English Church Registers under the variant spellings Dayhus, Dayhouse, Dyehouse, Dyos, Day(o)us and Dey(o)us, has two distinct possible sources, each with its own history and derivation. Firstly, Dyhouse may be of early medieval Welsh origin, and a variant of "Deyose, Deios", itself a colloquial form of "Dei, Dai, Dye, Day", Welsh hypocorisms of the male given name "David", ultimately from the Hebrew "Dodavehu", beloved of Jehovah. The popularity of the name in Wales and its bordering counties was largely due to the 6th Century monk and Bishop of Menevia, who became the patron saint of Wales. In 1575, one Rogerus Deyos or Dyos was noted in Records of Alberbury, Shropshire, and on January 23rd 1581, Janne, daughter of Mary Dayus, was christened at Romsey, Hampshire. The second possibility is that Dyhouse is a locational name from Dayhouse, the name of a residence in High Ercall, Shropshire, or from Dayhouse Cottage and Lower Dayhouse, residences in Cardington, Shropshire. On June 14th 1674, Jane, daughter of William Dayhouse, was christened at Madeley, Shropshire, and on April 2nd 1699, the christening of Mary, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dyhouse, took place at St. Swithin London-Stone, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Deyose, which was dated 1169, in "Early Medieval Records of Shropshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

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