Origin of the surname Dunne

This interesting surname, found in England, Scotland and Ireland, has a number of possible origins. Firstly, it may be of Anglo-Saxon origin, from the Olde English pre 7th Century and Middle English "dunn", meaning "dull, brown, dark-coloured", and was a nickname for a man with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. It may also have originated from an unrecorded Middle English survival of an Olde English byname, "Dunna", dark. Secondly, the surname is widespread in Ireland, where it is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Duinn, Doinn", composed of the Gaelic prefix "O", male descendant of, and the personal name "Duinn, oinn", from "donn", black, brown, a byname given to someone with dark hair or swarthy complexion, as above.

In Ireland the name is usually spelt "Dunne", and the sept originated in County Leix and formed one of the principal families of Leinster where their chief was the Lord of Iregan; they were especially mentioned in mid 16th Century documents as hostile and dangerous to the English interest. Those who spelt their name Dunn usually came from Ulster, where they were possibly of Scottish extraction. Finally, in Scotland, the surname also derives from this Celtic origin, but may also be locational from the lands of Dun, Tayside (Angus), which derives from "dun", fort. Early recordings include William Dun (1180, Gloucestershire), John le Dun (1198, Hertfordshire), and Adam de Dun (1255, Scotland). A Coat of Arms granted to a Dunn Family in Bircher, near Leominster, depicts quarterly first and second silver, a gold wolf salient, second and third, black three round gold buckles, tongues downward. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillananaomh O'Duinn, which was dated 1102, in the "Ancient Irish Records", during the reign of Irish High Kings in Opposition, 1103 - 1169. 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.

The surname Dunne. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of dunne is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname dunne, and in addition to the original locations of dunne, we can find out where people with the surname dunne can currently be found.

The surname Dunne around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname dunne. The mobility of people carrying the surname dunne has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Dunne

The historical chronicle of dunne is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname dunne are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname dunne, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname dunne or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of dunne.

Notable Figures Named Dunne

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished dunnes throughout human history. A surname like dunne can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Dunne and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of dunne. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname dunne, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of dunne, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Dunne