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Irish surname

Dolan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Dubhláin · 'descendant of Dubhshlán' (black defiance, challenge)

Woulfe (1923) gives Dolan as an anglicised form of Ó Dubhláin, 'descendant of Dubhshlán' (black defiance, challenge), which he calls a rather common surname in all parts of Ireland. In 1890, 142 Dolan births were registered in Ireland, chiefly in Fermanagh, Roscommon, Cavan, Galway, Leitrim and Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the Dolan surname
Irish formÓ Dubhláin
Meaning'descendant of Dubhshlán' (black defiance, challenge)
CountiesFermanagh, Roscommon, Cavan, Galway
Other spellings5

Origin of the Dolan name

Woulfe names no single territory or sept for Ó Dubhláin: he calls it 'a rather common surname in all parts of Ireland' and warns that its anglicised forms cannot always be distinguished from those of Ó Dubhlainn (a family of the Ui Maine, Co. Galway) and Ó Dúnlaing.[1][2]

  1. Beginning of the 13th centuryFelix O Dubhlain was Bishop of Ossory.[1]
  2. 1890142 Dolan births registered, chiefly in Fermanagh, Roscommon, Cavan, Galway, Leitrim and Dublin.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. FermanaghFirst county named for Dolan births in 1890; 23 Dolan entries in Fermanagh.[3][4]
Co. RoscommonNamed second among the counties where Dolan was principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. CavanPrincipal Dolan county in 1890; 18 Dolan entries in Cavan.[3][4]
Co. GalwayAmong the counties where Dolan was principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. LeitrimPrincipal Dolan county in 1890; 14 Dolan entries in Leitrim.[3][5]
Co. DublinAmong the counties where Dolan was principally found in 1890.[3]

Other spellings

O'Doolan · Doolan · O Dolane · O Dowlane · O Doelane[1]

The Dolan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Dolan surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Dolan crest gifts

Clan Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap CX24 Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms Irish Cap Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Dolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap OG42 Dolan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Dolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIJ11 Classic Cap - Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Odolan Coat Of Arms II Irisharms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Odolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapNU38 Classic Cap - Odolan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Odolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Dolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapGA63 Classic Cap - Dolan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Dolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Dolan surname: questions

What does the surname Dolan mean?

Woulfe gives Dolan as a form of Ó Dubhláin, 'descendant of Dubhshlán', a name meaning 'black defiance, challenge'.[1]

Is Dolan an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Dolan among the anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Dubhláin, which he calls a rather common surname in all parts of Ireland.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Dolan name from?

Woulfe names no single home territory. In 1890 Dolan births were found principally in Fermanagh, Roscommon, Cavan, Galway, Leitrim and Dublin; Ulster (50) and Connacht (52) had the most.[1][3]

Are Dolan and Doolan the same name?

Woulfe lists both Dolan and Doolan as forms of Ó Dubhláin, but Doolan is also a form of Ó Dubhlainn, a Galway family of the Ui Maine; he says these forms cannot always be told apart.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Dubhláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhlain.php
  2. Ó Dubhlainn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhlainn.php
  3. Dolan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/dolan.php
  4. Registration Province of Ulster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/ulster-names.php
  5. Registration Province of Connaught (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/connaught-names.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).