Show ContentsDunaway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dunaway family

The surname Dunaway was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Dunwich, now submerged by the sea, held by Robert Malet, a Norman Baron, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Dunaway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dunaway research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dunaway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunaway Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dunwich, Dunway, Dunnaway, Dunwick, Dunweigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Dunaway family

More information is included under the topic Early Dunaway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunaway Ranking

In the United States, the name Dunaway is the 3,179th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2


United States Dunaway migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dunaway Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph S. Dunaway, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1894
Dunaway Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Dunaway, who landed in America, in 1903
  • Margaret R. Dunaway, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
  • Jennie P. Dunaway, aged 53, who immigrated to America, in 1904
  • Thomas F. Dunaway, aged 53, who landed in America, in 1904
  • W.F. Dunaway, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Dunaway migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dunaway Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Denoris Dunaway, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Contemporary Notables of the name Dunaway (post 1700) +

  • Faye Dunaway (b. 1941), Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, three-time Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award winning American actress from Bascom, Florida,
  • Hollie Natashia Dunaway (b. 1984), American former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2013
  • Hetty Jane Dunaway Sewell (1870-1961), American actress, monologuist, philanthropist and the creator of the Dunaway Gardens in rural Georgia
  • George W. Dunaway (1922-2008), United States Army soldier, the second Sergeant Major of the Army (1968-1970)
  • Dennis Dunaway (b. 1946), American musician, bass guitarist for the Alice Cooper group from 1964-1974
  • Judson Dunaway (1890-1976), American inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
  • Shelton Dunaway (b. 1957), American rhythm and blues artist
  • Jim Dunaway (b. 1941), American football player
  • Michele Dunaway (b. 1965), best-selling American author
  • Craig Dunaway (b. 1961), former professional American NFL football tight end

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Kenneth Leroy Dunaway, American Electrician's Mate Third Class from Oklahoma, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 3


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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