Gaelic, otherwise known as Early Modern Irish, was used in Ireland from around the year 1200 until the 18th century. It is from this language that we found the first references to the name Doonant as Ó Dúnadhaigh. The name is essentially derived from the word dún which means fort. 1
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Early Origins of the Doonant family
The surname Doonant was first found in the twelfth century.
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Early History of the Doonant family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doonant research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the year 1420 is included under the topic Early Doonant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Doonant Spelling Variations
The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name Doonant were encountered in the archives: O'Downey, Dawney, MacDowney, MacEldowney, Muldowney and many more.
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Early Notables of the Doonant family
Notable among the family name at this time was the O'Dunadhaigh sept found in Luchair, the old name of a region that lay on the borders of... Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Doonant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Doonant family
Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Doonant: James Downey who went to Pennsylvania in 1711; Brian Dawney arrived in Virginia in 1722; Elizabeth Downey went to Philadelphia in 1745; William Downey settled in New York in 1777.
Ireland
Scotland
