| Doway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Scotland Etymology of DowayWhat does the name Doway mean? The name Doway was first used in the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. It indicates that the first bearer lived in the Macildowie territory. The name Dowie is a shortened form of the place-name, and surname, Macildowie. In Gaelic, MacIldowie means "son of the black lad" 1 Early Origins of the Doway familyThe surname Doway was first found in on the Isle of Iona. A very rare surname, one of the first records was of "John Mc John Dowy in Boespick and Thomas Mc Allester Dowie in Dalquhalliche [who] were fined for reset of Clan Gregor, 1613." 1 Some of the family may be indeed English, as in Devon we found "Bampton affords a notable instance of decadence. A very poor little market-town now, it was once the head of an honour held of the Conqueror by Walter de Douay. Previously it had formed part of the royal demesne. Domesday records a population of 68, including 15 swineherds. BAMPTON affords a notable instance of decadence. A very poor little market-town now, it was once the head of an honour held of the Conqueror by Walter de Douay. Previously it had formed part of the royal demesne. A hide adjacent to the manor had been held by five thanes, and here Walter had three tenants, with eight serfs, bordars, and villeins. Walter de Douay's son, Robert de Bampton, had an only daughter, who brought the manor to the Paganells and thence again it passed to the Cogans by the marriage." 2 Early History of the Doway familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doway research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1671 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Doway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Doway Spelling VariationsMedieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Doway has been spelled Dowie, Dowey, Douie, Douey, MacIldowie, MacIldowy and others. Early Notables of the Doway familyMore information is included under the topic Early Doway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Doway familyMany of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Doway or a variant listed above: William Dowie who settled in Philadelphia in 1839; Edward Dowey settled in Philadelphia in 1876 with his brother Patrick.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
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