The original Gaelic form of the Irish name O'Durnyn was Ó Duirnin or Ó Dornian, possibly derived from the word "dorn," which means "fist." 1
Loading...
Early Origins of the O'Durnyn family
The surname O'Durnyn was first found in County Antrim (Irish: Aontroim) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland. The name is also specific to "Ballydurnian in County Antrim, but Durnian is the more usual form in west Ulster." 2
Loading...
Early History of the O'Durnyn family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Durnyn research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1596 and 1700 are included under the topic Early O'Durnyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Loading...
O'Durnyn Spelling Variations
During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name O'Durnyn revealed many variations, including Durnan, Durnane, Durneen, Durnin, Durnain, Dornan, Dornain and many more.
Loading...
Early Notables of the O'Durnyn family
More information is included under the topic Early O'Durnyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Loading...
Migration of the O'Durnyn family
Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Durnyn or a variant listed above: Nicholas Durnan who settled in Virginia in 1734; Charles Durnin settled in Newcastle in Co. Delaware in 1827; John Durnin arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868.
Ireland
