| ![Show Contents]() Donlon Surname History
- Origins Available:
Ireland
Etymology of DonlonWhat does the name Donlon mean? Many variations of the name Donlon have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Domhnallain, derived from the personal name of Domhallan, Lord of Clan Breasail, from whom the sept claims descent. 1 Early Origins of the Donlon familyThe surname Donlon was first found in Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Donlon familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donlon research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1609, 1616, 1640, 1649, 1660, 1665 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Donlon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Donlon Spelling VariationsPronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Donlon are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Donellan, Donnellan, Donnelan, Donelan, Donnellin, Donellin and many more. Early Notables of the Donlon familyReverend Nehemiah Donellan (d. 1609), Archbishop of Tuam, who translated the New Testament into Irish. His name is written in Irish Fearganinm O'Domhnallain, and he was born in the county of Galway, and is said to have been a son of Melaghlin O'Donellan. 2
His first son was Nehemiah Donnellan (1649-1705), was...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donlon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Donlon Rankingthe United States, the name Donlon is the 18,737th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3
| Donlon migration to the United States | + |
The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Donlon family relocated to North American shores quite early:
Donlon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Stephen Donlon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 4
- Edward Donlon, who arrived in Mississippi in 1843 4
- Patrick Donlon, aged 28, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 4
- Catherine Donlon, aged 55, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Donlon (post 1700) | + |
- Peter Dwight Donlon (1906-1979), American gold medalist rower at the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Dolores Donlon (b. 1926), American model and actress
- Billy Donlon (b. 1977), American college basketball coach
- Marguerite Donlon (b. 1966), Irish dancer, choreographer and ballet director
- Roger Hugh Charles Donlon (1934-2024), retired United States Army officer who was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam
- Denise Anne Donlon CM (b. 1956), Canadian executive, television producer, television host, and programme director, inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Hall Of Fame (2004)
- Christopher Donlon, Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League (AFL)
| Historic Events for the Donlon family | + |
Vimy Ridge - Thomas Patrick Donlon (1897-1917), Canadian clerk, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge September 1917
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
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