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Dormer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dormer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Dormer comes from the Irish Gaelic Mac Diarmada, which means "son of Diarmuid," or, son of Dermot and belongs to the venerable Irish tradition of patronymic naming. However another source claims the name came from the Irish diarmaid, which meant "the god of arms." 1

Early Origins of the Dormer family

The surname Dormer was first found in County Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where the family is believed to have been descended from the Heremon dynasty of Irish Kings and were known as the Princes of Moylurg, or the Kings of Connacht, known as the Clann Mulroona. Specifically they were descended from Teige, a King of Connacht and his son, Murtogh, Prince of Moylurg. Their ancient territories were in the counties of Roscommon and Galway. They were divided into three septs. One of the septs embraced English rule early and relatively painlessly, the other two suffered at the hands of Strongbow's invasion in the 12th century. Of the other two septs, the more prominent is based in Coolavin, in Sligo. This sept was originally found at Moylurg and controlled a large part of Roscommon.

"The MacDermotts were ancient Princes of Moylurg, having their territories in the Barony of Boyle, County Koscommon, and parts of the Parishes of Islandeady, Turlough and Breaffy, in Counties Sligo and Mayo. Their chief fortress "was on an island in Lough Key, near Boyle," and they were hereditary Marshals of Connaught. At the present time Connaught is the province in which the MacDermotts are principally found, and half of the persons of the name in that province belong to County Roscommon. " 2

The head of this branch was one of the few leaders who is still credited as an authentic chieftain by the Genealogical Office of Ireland, conferring the rightful title The MacDermot. Moreover, the chief is also unofficially styled Prince of Coolavin. The third sept held a family seat at Kilronan in the north of Roscommon, and was referred to as MacDermot Roe, from the word ruadh, which means "red."

Early History of the Dormer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dormer research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1251, 1320, 1592, 1641, 1707 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Dormer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dormer Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Dormer 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. Dermott, Dermot, Dermitt, Dermit, McDermott, Dermutt, Dermut, MacDermott, McDermot, MacDermot, MacDermitt, McDermitt, MacDermit and many more.

Early Notables of the Dormer family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dormer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dormer migration to the United States +

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Dormer or a variant listed above, including:

Dormer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Sir Fleetwood Dormer, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 3
Margaret Dormer, who landed in Maryland in 1673 3
Sarah Dormer, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 3

Dormer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Dormer, who landed in Georgia in 1748 3
Thomas Dormer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 3

Dormer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dormer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Dormer, aged 67 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Perseverance" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4

Dormer migration to Australia +

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

Dormer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Dormer, English convict from Oxford, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 5
George Dormer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 6
Judith Dormer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 6
Thomas Dormer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 6
Ellen Dormer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1848 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dormer 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:

Dormer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John J. Dormer, aged 22, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1874
Margaret Dormer, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1874
James Dormer, aged 20, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
George J. Dormer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Triumph" in 1883
Anne J. Dormer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Triumph" in 1883
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dormer (post 1700) +

Michael Edmund Francis Dormer (1937-2021), New Zealand cricketer. He played four first-class matches for Auckland in 1961-1962
John Dormer (1945-2017), Canadian politician, Mayor of Kamloops (1986–1988)
Robert Dormer (1610-1643), 1st Earl of Carnarvon, 2nd Baron Dormer
Robert Dormer (1551-1616), 1st Baron Dormer
Michael Dormer, San Diego-based artist, cartoonist and entrepreneur
Mortimer Dormer Leggett (1821-1896), American lawyer, school administrator, professor, and major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War

The Dormer 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: Honor probataque virtus
Motto Translation: Honour and approved valour.

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
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. 26)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The HARPLEY 1848 - PASSENGER LIST. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848HarpleyPassengerList.htm