The original Gaelic form of the Irish name Dornyn was Ó Duirnin or Ó Dornian, possibly derived from the word "dorn," which means "fist." 1
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Early Origins of the Dornyn family
The surname Dornyn was first found in County Antrim (Irish: Aontroim) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland. The name is also specific to "Ballydurnian in County Antrim, but Durnian is the more usual form in west Ulster." 2
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Early History of the Dornyn family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dornyn research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1596 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Dornyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Dornyn Spelling Variations
The search for the origins of the name Dornyn family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Durnan, Durnane, Durneen, Durnin, Durnain, Dornan, Dornain and many more.
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Early Notables of the Dornyn family
More information is included under the topic Early Dornyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Dornyn family
Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Dornyn or a variant listed above: Nicholas Durnan who settled in Virginia in 1734; Charles Durnin settled in Newcastle in Co. Delaware in 1827; John Durnin arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868.
Ireland
