| ![Show Contents]() O'Doolin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Ireland
Etymology of O'DoolinWhat does the name O'Doolin mean? Throughout history, very few Irish surnames have exclusively maintained their original forms. Before being translated into English from Irish Gaelic, O'Doolin appeared as Ó Dobhailen or "Dubhshláin," which combines the Gaelic elements "Dubh," meaning dark, with "shláin," meaning challenge or defiance. 1 Early Origins of the O'Doolin familyThe surname O'Doolin 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 O'Doolin familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Doolin research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1834 and 1914 are included under the topic Early O'Doolin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Doolin Spelling VariationsWithin the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname O'Doolin were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Dolan, Doland, Dooley, Dowling, Doolin, Doolan, O'Dooley, O'Dolan, O'Doolin, Dollan, Dolland, Dooland, Dowlling, Doolley and many more. Early Notables of the O'Doolin familyMore information is included under the topic Early O'Doolin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Doolin familyThe 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the O'Doolin family relocated to North American shores quite early: Jimmy, Michael, John, Patrick, and Thomas Dolans, Doolins, Dowlings, landed at Philadelphia in the 1800's and made their way to different railroad sites to make their fortune.
- MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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