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Dawn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Dawn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Dawn family

The surname Dawn was first found in Cornwall where the family held at one time fifteen manors and were descended by an heiress to the house of Courtenay Earl of Devon about the reign of Edward II. 1

It is known to be a "Norman family by reputation, and said to be traced to the Conquest, descended from Sir William Downay, who was in the wars in the Holy Land with Richard I. in 1192, at which time that King gave him, in memory of his acts of valour, a ring from his finger, which is still in possession of the family." 1

The actual spelling of Sir William is under dispute as another reference claims William D'Aunay accompanied Richard I. to Palestine. 2

This latter reference digs further to their earlier life in Normandy where the name was also known as "De Alneto, a branch of the baronial house of Bassett, deriving from Fulco or Fulcelin de Alneto, brother of Osmond Bassett, Baron of Normanville in 1050." 2

"The manors of East and West Antony, [Cornwall] though separated for several ages, were originally in the family of Dawney or Danny; and after passing through many changes, they are again re-united in the possession of the Right Hon. Reginald Pole Carew. East Antony was carried by an heiress from the Dawneys to the Archdeknes. This transfer must have taken place so early as the fourteenth century, since Sir Waren Archdekne, or Erchdeken, left three daughters, one of whom was married to Sir Thomas Arundell, died possessed of this manor in the year 1420." 3

"The manor of West Antony, which, as we have already noted was originally in the family of Dawney, passed by a daughter from Sir John Dawney, her father, to Sir Edward Courtenay, her husband, and was for several generations possessed by the Earls of Devonshire of that name. The manor of Tregantle, like East and West Antony, was originally in the family of Dawney, from whom it passed to the Courtenays." 3

"The church of Sheviock was founded and endowed by those knightly gentlemen, lords of the barton and manor of Sheviock, surnamed Daunye, or Dawnye; so called from the manor of Stanacomb Dawney in Devonshire, whereof they were lords; heretofore privileged with the jurisdiction of life and member." 3

Early History of the Dawn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dawn research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1331, 1394, 1415, 1420, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1625, 1660, 1661, 1664, 1690, 1695, 1707, 1708, 1727 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Dawn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dawn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dawney, Dawny, Dawn, Dawnie, Dawne, Dawnay, Dawnsey, Daun, Dorn, Dorne and many more.

Early Notables of the Dawn family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

John Dawnay of Womersley, Yorkshire

Dawn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dawn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Dawn, aged 19, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1775 4

Dawn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Dawn, (b. 1818), aged 22, English clerk departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5

Dawn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dawn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dawn, (b. 1818), aged 21, Cornish shoemaker travelling aboard the ship "Amelia Thompson" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 30th September 1839 6
Mr. John Dawn (Dawr), (b. 1818), aged 21, Cornish shoemaker, from Callington, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Amelia Thompson" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 27th September 1839 7
John Dawn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 8
William Dawn, aged 18, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1851 9
William Dawn, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Sultana" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dawn (post 1700) +

Jack Dawn (1892-1961), acclaimed American make-up artist
Elizabeth "Liz" Dawn (1939-2017), stage name of Sylvia Butterfield MBE, an English actress, best known for her role as Vera Duckworth in the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street
Allison Dawn Doiron, Canadian actress and director from Prince Edward Island, known for Cult of Chucky (2017), Seed (2013) and Lost Girl (2010)
Mrs. Jacqueline Dawn Haggerwood B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for voluntary and charitable services to the community in Clapham, Bedfordshire 10
Kaitlyn Dawn Bristowe (b. 1985), Canadian television personality, podcast host, and former spin class instructor from Leduc, Alberta
Mrs. Paula Dawn Assheton O.B.E., British Head for Operational Assurance at Border Force with the Home Office, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Border Security 11
Ms. Michelle Dawn Richmond M.B.E., British Director for Membership and Professional Development for the Institution of Engineering and Technology, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Engineering 11
Rebecca Dawn Brewerton (b. 1982), Welsh professional golfer and a member of the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour
Ms. Rachel Dawn Pounds O.B.E., British Head of Operations for Emergency Health Unit at Save the Children, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for Humanitarian services 11
Alicia Dawn Popoff (1950-2015), Canadian abstract painter from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, known for her works in acrylics and for her sculptures

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ISABELLA WATSON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846IsabellaWatson.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Sultana.htm
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists