Dawin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Dawin

The Irish name Dawin was originally written in a Gaelic form as Ó Daimhin, derived from the word "damh," which refers to "an ox" or "a stag." 1

Early Origins of the Dawin family

Early History of the Dawin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dawin research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1427 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Dawin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dawin Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Dawin 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. Devine, O'Devine, Davin, Devane, Dwane, Duane, Dwain, Dwayne, Dwayn, Devan, Davine, Devyne and many more.

Early Notables of the Dawin family

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

Migration of the Dawin family

The 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 Dawin family relocated to North American shores quite early: Mary Devine who settled in Virginia in 1653; Felix Devine who settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1804; Bryan Devine settled in New York in 1803; John Davins settled in Virginia in 1636.