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Dignan History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Dignan Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The spelling and overall form of Irish names often vary considerably. The original Gaelic form of the name Dignan is Ó Dunain. The name is thought to have originally been derived from the word "donn," which meant "brown." 1

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Irish Gaelic Ó Duibhgenain which roughly translates into English as follows: "dubh" as "black of dark;" "gen" as "a sword or wound;" and "an" as "one who." 2

Early Origins of the Dignan family

The surname Dignan was first found in Roscommon, where they held a family seat at Kilronan. 2 One of the first records of the name was Saint Donnán of Eigg (died 617) and Irish Gaelic priest who attempted to introduce Christianity to the Picts of northwestern Scotland. Donnán is the patron saint of Eigg, an island in the Inner Hebrides where he was martyred. Later, Maelmuire O Dunain, was Bishop of Meath (1096-1117.) The next listing was of Adam O'Dounan in a County Roscommon land case in 1299. 1 Shortly after, Ferrall Muinach O'Duignan began the Church of Kilronan in 1339. This church, over looking Lake Meelagh, was of great national interest in that it is reportedly the burial place of Carolan. John Ballach O'Dugenan was chief of his Clan when they were dispossessed of their estates in Kilronan.

They later were landed gentry in the parish of Dromleas, in the barony of Drumaheare, county of Leitrim, estates which they held until the Cromwellian confiscations in the 17th century. They were noted for their great contributions to history and literature. Manus O'Duigenan contributed to the Book of Ballymote, sometimes called the Book of Kilronan, or the Book of the O'Duigenans, which became one of the chronicles of the Four Masters. 2

Early History of the Dignan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dignan research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1788 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Dignan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dignan Spelling Variations

Numerous spelling variations of the surname Dignan exist. A partial explanation for these variants is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Duignan, O'Duignan, Doonan, O'Doonan, Dignan, O'Dignan, Dignam, O'Donnan, Donnan, O'Dignam, Duigenan, O'Duigenan, Donan and many more.

Early Notables of the Dignan family

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

Dignan migration to the United States +

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish migrating out of their homeland in a great measure due to the oppressive imperial policies of the English government and landowners. Many of these Irish families sailed to North America aboard overcrowded passenger ships. By far, the largest influx of Irish immigrants to North America occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These particular immigrants were instrumental in creation of the United States and Canada as major industrial nations because the many essential elements such as the roadways, canals, bridges, and railways required an enormous quantity of cheap labor, which these poor immigrants provided. Later generations of Irish in these countries also went on to make valuable contributions in such fields as the arts, commerce, politics, and education. Extensive research into immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Dignan:

Dignan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Bryan Dignan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 3

Dignan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Philip Dignan, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 3
William Dignan, who arrived in New York in 1822 3
Patrick Dignan, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1849 3
Bernard Dignan, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 3
Briget Dignan, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1854 3

Dignan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dignan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Dignan, aged 60 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Progress" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
Mr. Patrick Dignan, aged 26 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Progress" departing 5th May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 14th July 1847 but he died on board 5
Mr. William Dignan, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Progress" departing 5th May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 14th July 1847 but he died on board 5

Dignan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dignan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Patrick Dignan, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Sophia Pate

Contemporary Notables of the name Dignan (post 1700) +

Peter A. Dignan, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Jacksonville, Florida, 1914-19 6
John R. Dignan, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1924 6
Herman Henry Dignan (1890-1956), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Shiawassee County, 1935-38; Member of Michigan State Senate 15th District, 1939-42 6
Patrick Dignan (1814-1894), New Zealand politician, Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 24)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 73)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html