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Origins Available: |
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The ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland spawned the name Donkend. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Donnchad," which means "brown warrior". The personal name Donnchad is composed of two elements; "donn," which means "brown" and "cath," which means "warrior".
The surname Donkend was first found in Northumberland, where they held great estates but were a branch of the distinguished Scottish Clan of Duncan who were originally of Iona in the Hebrides, but changed their name and continued to use the basic Coat of Arms of the Duncan Clan.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donkend research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donkend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Donkend has appeared as Donkin, Downkin, Donking, Donken, Downken and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Donkend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The Donkend were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown: Patrick Donkin arrived in Pennsylvania in 1820.