Donnyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Donnyn is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in the region of Dunning in the lower part of Strathearn. Today Dunning is the process of communicating with customers to ensure the collection of accounts receivable derived from the 17th century verb "dun," meaning to demand payment of a debt.

Early Origins of the Donnyn family

The surname Donnyn was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Donnyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donnyn research. Another 243 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1199, 1200, 1234, 1437, 1440, 1514 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Donnyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donnyn Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Donnyn family name include Dunning, Dunnings, Douning, Downing, Dunnin and many more.

Early Notables of the Donnyn family

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

Migration of the Donnyn family to Ireland

Some of the Donnyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Donnyn family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Donnyn surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Sarah Dunning who made her home in Virginia in 1650. George Dunning traveled further south landing in Barbados in 1654. In 1774; the first Dunning entered Canada. John Dunning, 24.

The Donnyn 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: Studiis et rebus honestis
Motto Translation: By study and honourable pursuits.