Contents [hide]

Dineen History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Dineen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Dineen comes from when the family resided in Downing, Oxfordshire. There is much speculation about the origin of this name as another source notes that the name could be from a "descendant of Dunn (dark brown); dweller at the hill or hill pasture" 1 and another source claims that the name could have been a nickname for someone with a "dark-brown complexion." 2 And another source claims the name is derived from "a location name in Worcestershire." 3

Early Origins of the Dineen family

The surname Dineen was first found in Oxfordshire where Richard Duning was the first record of the family found there in 1197 in the Feet of Fines. Later, Geoffrey Dounyng was listed in 1311. 4

Early records in Somerset revealed John Dounynne and Tonn Dunnyng, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Hervey Dunning, Cambridgeshire and Richard Duning, Oxfordshire. 6

And in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Dunnyng; Alicia Downyng and Johannes Downnyng. 6

"The Downings of Speckshall in the 17th century were a branch of the very ancient Essex family of the name, a member of which was made a Baronet in 1663, whilst another was founder of Downing College, Cambridge. The Downings have their home now in Ipswich and its neighbourhood. In South Elmham church there is, or was, a monument to Dorcas Downinge, bearing the date of 1638." 7

The Downing Baronetcy, of East Hatley in the County of Cambridge was created for Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet (c.1625-1684.) Downing Street in London is named after him.

Early History of the Dineen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dineen research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1400, 1606, 1623, 1626, 1644, 1656, 1672, 1684, 1685, 1711, 1749 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Dineen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dineen Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dineen include Downing, Doning, Douning, Duning and others.

Early Notables of the Dineen family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir George Downing (1623-1684), 1st Baronet of East Hatley, an Anglo-Irish soldier, statesman, and diplomat, eponym of Downing Street in London; Sir George Downing, (c. 1656-1711), 2nd Baronet of East Hatley, Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer; and Sir George Downing, (1685-1749), 3rd Baronet of East...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dineen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dineen Ranking

In the United States, the name Dineen is the 9,849^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Dineen family to Ireland

Some of the Dineen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dineen migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Dineen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hugh Dineen, who arrived in New York in 1834 9
John Dineen, who landed in New York in 1834 9

Dineen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Delia Dineen, aged 25, who landed in America from Limerick, in 1906
Hannah Dineen, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States from Castlegregory, Ireland, in 1912
Christina Dineen, aged 22, who settled in America from Limerick, Ireland, in 1913
Daniel Dineen, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Cahireiveen, Ireland, in 1914
Ellie Dineen, aged 19, who immigrated to America from Causeway, Ireland, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dineen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dineen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Catherine Dineen, aged 14 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing 17th June 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 9th August 1847 but she died on board 10
Mr. John Dineen who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing 17th June 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 9th August 1847 but he died on board 10
Mr. John Dineen, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing 17th June 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 9th August 1847 but he died on board 10

Dineen Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Carrie M. Dineen, aged 31, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1911

Dineen migration to Australia +

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

Dineen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Alison Dineen, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Nashwauk" 11
Daniel Dineen, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" 12

Dineen 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:

Dineen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Michael Dineen, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 13
Mrs. Susan Dineen née Rowe, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 13
Park Dineen, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blairgowrie" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Dineen (post 1700) +

Kerry Michael Dineen (b. 1952), former American Major League Baseball outfielder
Patricia Major Dineen (1936-1961), American ice dancer
Gordon M. Dineen (b. 1962), American professional ice hockey coach
Sylvester A. Dineen (b. 1898), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 3rd District, 1925-33 14
M. J. Dineen, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for South Dakota, 1892 14
John Dineen, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Huntingdon, 1897-98 14
Jerry W. Dineen, American politician, Member of Illinois State House of Representatives 31st District, 1897-99 14
Benedict D. Dineen (1890-1958), American Democratic Party politician, Lawyer 14
Seán Dineen (1944-2024), Irish mathematician specialising in complex analysis
William Patrick "Foxy" Dineen (1932-2016), Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dineen family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Robert Joseph Dineen, American Seaman First Class from Pennsylvania, 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 15

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
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)
South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nashwauk 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1858.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html