Show ContentsDonie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Donie Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Donie

What does the name Donie mean?

The Donie surname is a habitational name, taken on from Downhead in Somerset, or Donhead in Wiltshire. These place names both derived from the Old English words "dun," meaning "hill," and "he-afod," meaning the geographic "head" of land. There was also a place named Dunnet in Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland. It is within the Parish of Dunnet.

Early Origins of the Donie family

The surname Donie was first found in Wiltshire. Originally from Normandy, the name was originally spelt Dannet, for De Anet or D'Alneto. D'Alnai is mentioned at the Battle of Hastings 1 as 'Sire d'Alnai.' 2

To the north in Scotland, the name is of local origin from Dunnet in Caithness. 3 The local pronunciation is "Dinnet. Sir Gilbert Dynnocht was vicar of Arndurnes (Durness) before 1541, as Sir Gilbert Dunnat, vicar of Ra, is recorded as deceased in 1550. Master John Donat or Dunnat appears as rector of Cannesbe (Canisbay) in 1577 and 1581. Mergaret Dinit appears in Snawburgh, 1648 (Shetlard), and Katharine Donnat in Holand-Mey appears in 1663 (Caithness). Matthew Dunnett and George Dunnett in Gilles, Caithness, to be apprehended as rebels, 1670. Dunet was registered in 1700, " 4

Early History of the Donie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donie research. Another 278 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1296, 1500, 1577, 1648 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Donie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donie Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Donie include Dunnett, Dunnet, Donnatt, Donnat, Downett, Downatt, Dunett, Dunet, Donnett and many more.

Early Notables of the Donie family

More information is included under the topic Early Donie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donie 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:

Donie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. D. Donie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5
  • Mrs. Donie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5
  • Child Donie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Donie (post 1700) +

  • Donie Hanlon (1937-2023), Irish Gaelic footballer for Gracefield and at inter-county level with the Offaly senior football team (1958-1964)
  • Donie Nealon (b. 1935), retired Irish hurler
  1. Wace, Robert, Roman de Brut England: 1155. Digital
  2. 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)
  3. Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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