Show ContentsDunne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dunne family

The surname Dunne was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where the name is associated with the place named Dun.

Early History of the Dunne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dunne research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1255, 1260, 1268, 1428, 1467 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Dunne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunne Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dunn, Dunne, Dun, Dune and others.

Early Notables of the Dunne family

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

Dunne World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dunne is the 4,053rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dunne is ranked the 341st most popular surname with an estimated 136 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Dunne is the 710th popular surname with an estimated 5,525 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks Dunne as 799th with 8,486 people. 4

Ireland Migration of the Dunne family to Ireland

Some of the Dunne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dunne migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dunne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Tho Dunne, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 5
  • Thomas Dunne, who landed in Virginia in 1650 5
  • Charles Dunne, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 5
  • George Dunne, who settled in Virginia in 1660
  • Ann Dunne, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dunne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Franz Dunne, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1792 5
Dunne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Louis James Adrien Sassenot Dunne, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1845 5
  • Johanna Dunne, aged 35, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1846 5
  • Johann Hendrik Dunne, aged 35, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1846 5
  • Joh Heinr Dunne, who landed in America in 1847 5
  • Peter Dunne, who landed in America in 1850 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Dunne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dunne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Peter Dunne, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Sea Horse" in 1833
  • William Dunne, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Sea Horse" in 1833
  • John Dunne, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland

Australia Dunne migration to Australia +

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

Dunne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Dunne, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he was executed in 1827 6
  • Miss. Bridget Dunne, (b. 1812), aged 21, Irish nurse girl who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Caroline" on 6th August 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1868 7
  • Mr. Lawrence Dunne, Irish convict who was convicted in County Offaly (King's County), Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in 19th April 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1837 aboard the ship 8
  • Mr. Michael Dunne, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Offlay (Kings County), Ireland for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Patrick Dunne, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Laois (Queen's County), Ireland for life for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Dunne 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:

Dunne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 10
  • Mrs. Lucy Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 10
  • Miss Emma Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 10
  • Miss Elizabeth Dunne, (b. 1840), aged 22, Irish domestic servant from County Tipperary, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 10
  • Thomas Dunne, aged 21, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dunne (post 1700) +

  • John Richard Dunne (1930-2020), American politician and jurist, Member of the New York Senate (1966-1989), Assistant United States Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1990-1994)
  • Carlin Dunne (1983-2019), American motorcycle racer who died in a racing accident
  • John S. Dunne C.S.C. (1929-2013), American priest and theologian of the Congregation of Holy Cross
  • Dominique Dunne (1959-1982), American actress, known for her roles in Poltergeist (1982), The Shadow Riders (1982) and Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979)
  • John Gregory Dunne (1932-2003), American novelist, screenwriter and literary critic
  • Murphy Dunne (b. 1942), American actor and musician
  • Griffin Dunne (b. 1955), American Academy Award nominated actor
  • Dominick John Dunne (1925-2009), American writer and investigative journalist
  • Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), American author, writer and humorist
  • Philip Dunne (1908-1992), American Hollywood screenwriter, film director and producer
  • ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Patrick L Dunne (b. 1908), Welsh Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 11
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. William Joseph Dunne, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 12
HMS Royal Oak
  • A. Dunne, British Engine Room Artificer 5th Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 13


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/castle-forbes
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caroline
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  9. Convict Records Australia. Retrieved on 18th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  12. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  13. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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