Show ContentsDune History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Dune family in Ireland was Ó Duinn or Ó Doinn. Both Gaelic names are derived from the Gaelic word donn, which means brown. Ó Doinn is the genitive case of donn. 1

Early Origins of the Dune family

The surname Dune was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster. The family was descended from O'Rigain one of the ancient "Four Tribes of Tara" in the Kingdom of Meath, now the county of Meath. The Kings of Meath in turn traced their regal history back to the Heremon Kings.

Early History of the Dune family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dune research. Another 291 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1268, 1642, 1651, 1691, 1692, 1695, 1700, 1713, 1733 and 1758 are included under the topic Early Dune History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dune Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Dune were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Dunn, Dunne, Dun, O'Dunne, O'Doyne, Doine, Doin, O'Dunn and many more.

Early Notables of the Dune family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dune Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dune 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 Dune family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Dune Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Dune, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 2
Dune Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Cornelius Dune, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 2


The Dune Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mullach a-bu
Motto Translation: Victory for the Dunns.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. 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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