Contents [hide]

Dobbyn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dobbyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Dobbyn is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Dobbyn family lived in Staffordshire. This family was originally from St. Aubin, Normandy, and it is from the local form of this place-name, D'Aubin, which literally translates as from Aubin, that their surname derives. 1

Some sources notes note that the name is a diminutive of Dobb, which itself is a pet diminutive of Robert. 2 3

Early Origins of the Dobbyn family

The surname Dobbyn was first found in Staffordshire as a forename, Dobin de Hatton who was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1203. A few years later, Dobin Cusin was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Devon in 1221. The first record of the name as a surname was Hugo and Robert Dobin who were listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Herefordshire in 1207 and later in the Assize Rolls for Berkshire in 1227. 4

Hugo Dobin was recorded in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John. 5

Early History of the Dobbyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dobbyn research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1539, 1641, 1674 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dobbyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dobbyn Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dobbyn include Dobyns, Dobbins, Dobbings, Dobyn, Dobbin, Dobbyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Dobbyn family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Daniel Dobbyns, High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1641...

Migration of the Dobbyn family to Ireland

Some of the Dobbyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dobbyn migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Dobbyns to arrive on North American shores:

Dobbyn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ellen Dobbyn, who settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1804
Ellen Dobbyn, aged 20, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1804 6
Alexander, Arthur, James, John, Robert, Samuel, and Thomas Dobbyn, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
William Dobbyn, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1867

Dobbyn migration to Australia +

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

Dobbyn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Dobbyn, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Constantine"

Dobbyn 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:

Dobbyn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Dobbyn, (b. 1858), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 3rd October 1883 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Dobbyn (post 1700) +

John F. Dobbyn, American mystery writer and Professor of Law at the Villanova University School of Law, a finalist for the Shamus Award for Best Short Story
Mike Dobbyn, American professional long-drive golfer who holds the world record for the farthest drive in history at 551 yards
J. R. Dobbyn Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Virginia State House of Delegates 42nd District, 2011 8
David Joseph Dobbyn ONZM (b. 1957), New Zealand musician, singer–songwriter and record producer, known for his work with the rock group Th' Dudes and the pop band DD Smash
Michael Dobbyn Hassard (1817-1869), Irish Conservative Party politician from County Waterford, Member of Parliament for Waterford City (1857-1865)
Michael Dobbyn Hassard (1817-1869), Irish Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Waterford City (1857 – 1865)

The Dobbyn 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: Re e merito
Motto Translation: This through merit.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html