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Odwyer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Odwyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Odwyer family in Ireland was Ó Duibhir and Mac Duibhir. These are both derived from the words dubh, which means black, and odhar or uidhir, which means uncolored. 1 Another source has a slightly different explanation: "Descendant of the dark, tawny man; grandson of Dubhodhar (black Odhar)." 2 And yet another notes: "Said to be the Gaelic do-ire, a woody uncultivated place." 3

Early Origins of the Odwyer family

The surname Odwyer was first found in County Tipperary where they were the traditional Lords of Kilnamanagh. They claim descent from Cairbre Cluitheachar, the youngest son of Cucorb, King of Leinster through the O'Connors (Faley.) 4

Although the O'Dwyers originally held a family seat in the barony of Kilnamanagh, they later branched to Clonyhorpa and Drumdromy in the same county. The eponymous ancestor of the O'Dwyers was Duibhir (sometimes spelled Duibhidir and Dubhiir), 4 the 11th century chief of the sept. Without the prefix Mac, Dyer is mainly found in Cos. Sligo and Roscommon. 5

Early History of the Odwyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Odwyer research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1473, 1798, 1842, 1916 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Odwyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Odwyer Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of the surname Odwyer can be found in the archives. One reason for these variations is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. The different spellings that were found include Dwyer, O'Dwyer, Dwire, Dwier, Dyer and others.

Early Notables of the Odwyer family

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

Odwyer migration to the United States +

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the Odwyer name:

Odwyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael O'Dwyer, who settled in Savannah Georgia in 1821

Odwyer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Annie O'Dwyer, aged 27, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1907
Bessie O'Dwyer, aged 30, who settled in America from Castlerea, Ireland, in 1907
Bridget O'Dwyer, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Quilty, Ireland, in 1907
Denis P. O'Dwyer, aged 19, who landed in America from County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1907
Annie O'Dwyer, aged 17, who landed in America from Tulla, Ireland, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Odwyer migration to Australia +

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

Odwyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Patrick O'Dwyer, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"

Odwyer 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:

Odwyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John O'Dwyer, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Odwyer (post 1700) +

Edward F. O'Dwyer (1860-1922), American Chief Justice of the New York City court
Joseph O'Dwyer (1841-1898), Catholic American physician
Brian O'Dwyer (b. 1945), currently an American lobbyist and lawyer
Billy O'Dwyer (b. 1960), retired American professional ice hockey forward
Matt O'Dwyer (b. 1972), former American football player
Paul O'Dwyer (1907-1998), American politician and lawyer
Brigadier-General William O'Dwyer (1890-1964), American general, politician and diplomat, 100th Mayor of New York City (1946- 1950), Ambassador to Mexico (1950-1952)
Phil O'Dwyer, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Berkley, Michigan 7
Peter Paul O'Dwyer (1907-1998), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 21st District, 1948; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1964 7
Kevin O'Dwyer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1928 7
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Odwyer family +

RMS Titanic

Miss Ellen "Nellie" O'Dwyer, aged 25, Irish Third Class passenger from Limerick, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking 8

The Odwyer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vertus sola nobilitas
Motto Translation: Virtue alone enobles

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html