Contents [hide]

Dunne History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Dunne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland-Alt
Scotland

Etymology of Dunne

What does the name Dunne mean?

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Dunne family in Ireland was Ó Duinn or Ó Doinn. Both Gaelic names are derived from the Gaelic word donn, which means brown. Ó Doinn is the genitive case of donn. 1

Early Origins of the Dunne family

The surname Dunne was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster. The family was descended from O'Rigain one of the ancient "Four Tribes of Tara" in the Kingdom of Meath, now the county of Meath. The Kings of Meath in turn traced their regal history back to the Heremon Kings.

Early History of the Dunne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dunne research. Another 291 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1268, 1642, 1651, 1691, 1692, 1695, 1700, 1713, 1733 and 1758 are included under the topic Early Dunne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunne Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Dunne family name. Variations found include Dunn, Dunne, Dun, O'Dunne, O'Doyne, Doine, Doin, O'Dunn and many more.

Early Notables of the Dunne family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dunne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunne World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dunne is the 4,053^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dunne is ranked the 341^st most popular surname with an estimated 136 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Dunne is the 710^th popular surname with an estimated 5,525 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Dunne as 799^th with 8,486 people. 5

Dunne migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Dunne:

Dunne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho Dunne, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 6
Thomas Dunne, who landed in Virginia in 1650 6
Charles Dunne, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 6
George Dunne, who settled in Virginia in 1660
Ann Dunne, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dunne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Franz Dunne, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1792 6

Dunne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Louis James Adrien Sassenot Dunne, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1845 6
Johanna Dunne, aged 35, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1846 6
Johann Hendrik Dunne, aged 35, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1846 6
Joh Heinr Dunne, who landed in America in 1847 6
Peter Dunne, who landed in America in 1850 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dunne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dunne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Peter Dunne, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Sea Horse" in 1833
William Dunne, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Sea Horse" in 1833
John Dunne, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland

Dunne migration to Australia +

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

Dunne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Dunne, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he was executed in 1827 7
Miss. Bridget Dunne, (b. 1812), aged 21, Irish nurse girl who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Caroline" on 6th August 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1868 8
Mr. Lawrence Dunne, Irish convict who was convicted in County Offaly (King's County), Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in 19th April 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1837 aboard the ship 9
Mr. Michael Dunne, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Offlay (Kings County), Ireland for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Patrick Dunne, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Laois (Queen's County), Ireland for life for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dunne 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:

Dunne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 11
Mrs. Lucy Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 11
Miss Emma Dunne, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 11
Miss Elizabeth Dunne, (b. 1840), aged 22, Irish domestic servant from County Tipperary, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 11
Thomas Dunne, aged 21, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dunne (post 1700) +

John Richard Dunne (1930-2020), American politician and jurist, Member of the New York Senate (1966-1989), Assistant United States Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1990-1994)
Carlin Dunne (1983-2019), American motorcycle racer who died in a racing accident
John S. Dunne C.S.C. (1929-2013), American priest and theologian of the Congregation of Holy Cross
Dominique Dunne (1959-1982), American actress, known for her roles in Poltergeist (1982), The Shadow Riders (1982) and Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979)
John Gregory Dunne (1932-2003), American novelist, screenwriter and literary critic
Murphy Dunne (b. 1942), American actor and musician
Griffin Dunne (b. 1955), American Academy Award nominated actor
Dominick John Dunne (1925-2009), American writer and investigative journalist
Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), American author, writer and humorist
Philip Dunne (1908-1992), American Hollywood screenwriter, film director and producer
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dunne family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Patrick L Dunne (b. 1908), Welsh Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

HMS Repulse

Mr. William Joseph Dunne, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 13

HMS Royal Oak

A. Dunne, British Engine Room Artificer 5th Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 14

The Dunne 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: Mullach a-bu
Motto Translation: Victory for the Dunns. Note: other motto spellings include: Mullach a boo, Mullac Abu

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/castle-forbes
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caroline
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Australia. Retrieved on 18th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html