Show ContentsDavoren History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

All Irish surnames have a long, ancient Gaelic history behind them. The original Gaelic form of the name Davoren is Ó Dabhoireann, or also Dubhdabhoireann, derived from the words dubh, which means black, and an da Bhoireann, which means of the two Burrens. 1

Early Origins of the Davoren family

The surname Davoren was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they have been anciently seated as Chiefs of their territory at Cahirmacneaghty. They were anciently a Dalcassian sept of Brehons (Judges or Lawyers) and came down to Clare from the north probably sometime before the 10th century to settle in their north Clare barony at Noughaval, wherein this distinguished sept had their own mortuary chapel within the Church of Noughaval.

Early History of the Davoren family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Davoren research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1317, 1364, 1634, 1741 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Davoren History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davoren Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name Davoren revealed many variations, including Davoren, O'Davoran, O'Davoren, Davoran, Devoren and many more.

Early Notables of the Davoren family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Gillananaev O'Davoren, the Chief Judge


Davoren migration to the United States +

In the 18th and 19th centuries, thousands of Irish families fled an Ireland that was forcibly held through by England through its imperialistic policies. A large portion of these families crossed the Atlantic to the shores of North America. The fate of these families depended on when they immigrated and the political allegiances they showed after they arrived. Settlers that arrived before the American War of Independence may have moved north to Canada at the war's conclusion as United Empire Loyalists. Such Loyalists were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Those that fought for the revolution occasionally gained the land that the fleeing Loyalist vacated. After this period, free land and an agrarian lifestyle were not so easy to come by in the East. So when seemingly innumerable Irish immigrants arrived during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s, free land for all was out of the question. These settlers were instead put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Whenever they came, 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 Davoren or a variant listed above, including:

Davoren Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Margaret Agnes Davoren, aged 18, who landed in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1912
  • Vesey Davoren, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1920
  • Maria Davoren, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States from Moycullen, Ireland, in 1923
  • Morgan Davoren, aged 30, who settled in America from Moycullen, Ireland, in 1923
  • John Anthony Davoren, aged 20, who settled in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1924

Davoren migration to Australia +

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

Davoren Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Oliver Davoren, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 2
  • Biddy Davoren, aged 26, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 2
  • Eleanor Davoren, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 2
  • Margaret Davoren, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 2
  • Bridget Davoren, aged 43, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Davoren (post 1700) +

  • John Francis Xavier "Jack" Davoren (1915-1997), American politician, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1955–1967
  • William Davoren, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1960 4
  • John Francis Xavier Davoren (1915-1997), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives, 1955-66; Speaker of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, 1965-66 4
  • Mark Davoren, Irish Gaelic footballer
  • Iarfhlaith Davoren (b. 1986), Irish professional footballer
  • Westby James "Wes" Davoren (1928-2010), Australian politician


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARION 1851 - HER HISTORY. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
  3. South Australian Register Thursday 23rd November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Dirigo 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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