Show ContentsDoine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Doine 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 Doine family

The surname Doine 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 Doine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doine 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 Doine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Doine Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Doine dating from that time include Dunn, Dunne, Dun, O'Dunne, O'Doyne, Doine, Doin, O'Dunn and many more.

Early Notables of the Doine family

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

Migration of the Doine family

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 Doine family relocated to North American shores quite early: Thomas Dunn who settled in Wymouth, Massachusetts in 1647; Miss Dunn settled in Barbados in 1774; Mrs. Dunn settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1766; Agnes Dunn settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.



The Doine 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)


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