Show ContentsDulin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Throughout history, very few Irish surnames have exclusively maintained their original forms. Before being translated into English from Irish Gaelic, Dulin appeared as O Dobhailen or " Dubhshláin," which combines the Gaelic elements "Dubh," meaning dark, with "shláin," meaning challenge or defiance. [1]

Early Origins of the Dulin family

The surname Dulin was first found in Leinster, where they are believed to be descended from Eochaidh, King of Leinster, and became one of the "Seven septs of Leix."

However, the name is "fairly common to-day in Ulster - in the Catholic areas of Counties Cavan and Fermanagh - and in the Counties of Roscommon and Galway in Connacht. In the census of 1659 the name appears principally in Counties Roscommon and Fermanagh." [2]

Early History of the Dulin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dulin research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1834 and 1914 are included under the topic Early Dulin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dulin Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Dulin revealed spelling variations, including Dolan, Doland, Dooley, Dowling, Doolin, Doolan, O'Dooley, O'Dolan, O'Doolin, Dollan, Dolland, Dooland, Dowlling, Doolley and many more.

Early Notables of the Dulin family

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

Dulin Ranking

In the United States, the name Dulin is the 8,206th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3] However, in France, the name Dulin is ranked the 6,167th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. [4]


United States Dulin migration to the United States +

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Dulin family came to North America quite early:

Dulin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hugh Dulin, who arrived in Maryland in 1657 [5]
Dulin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Dulin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [5]
  • Anna Dulin, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
  • Gideon M. Dulin, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1895
Dulin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Harry Dulin, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Beatrice Dulin, who landed in America, in 1910
  • Frances Dulin, aged 33, who immigrated to America, in 1921
  • Jane Dulin, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1922

Contemporary Notables of the name Dulin (post 1700) +

  • Brice Dulin (b. 1990), French rugby union player who has played professionally since 2009
  • Michael Charles "Micky" Dulin (b. 1935), former English professional footballer


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  5. 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)


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