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Irish surname

Donlon: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Domhnalláin · 'descendant of Domhnallán' (diminutive of Domhnall)

Donlon is a spelling that Matheson (1901) records alongside Donlan and Donnellan, which Woulfe gives as English forms of the Irish Ó Domhnalláin. Woulfe says the principal family of that name was of Ui Maine, in the present County Galway. In the 1890 birth indexes, the Donlon spelling was found mainly in County Longford.

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Coat of arms associated with the Donlon surname
Irish formÓ Domhnalláin
Meaning'descendant of Domhnallán' (diminutive of Domhnall)
CountiesGalway, Longford, Antrim, Offaly
Other spellings7

Origin of the Donlon name

Woulfe: 'The principal family of this name is that of Ui Maine, in the present Co. Galway.' Its head, 'of the same stock as the O'Kellys', was chief of Clann Bhreasail, between Ballinasloe and Loughrea, with his residence at Ballydonnellan. Other families of the name lived in Antrim (Ui Tuirtre), Offaly and Tyrone.[1]

  1. 16th centuryWoulfe: the name 'not uncommon' in Offaly and neighbouring Leinster districts.[1]
  2. 1890Birth indexes: 14 Donlon births, principally in County Longford.[2]
  3. 1901Matheson lists Donlon among recorded spellings of Donlan/Donnellan.[3]
  4. 1989Pat Donlon becomes the first woman to direct the National Library of Ireland.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. GalwayHome of the principal Ó Domhnalláin family of Ui Maine; Donlan spelling mainly Galway in 1890.[1][2]
Co. LongfordThe Donlon spelling was found principally in Longford in the 1890 birth indexes.[2]
Co. AntrimA branch of the Oirghialla were anciently lords of Ui Tuirtre (baronies of Upper and Lower Toome).[1]
Co. OffalyWoulfe records a Brehon family of the name in Offaly.[1]

Notable people named Donlon

Pat (Patricia) Donlon1943–2026Librarian and academic; Director of the National Library of Ireland 1989–1997, the first woman in that post.[5]

Other spellings

Donlan · Donnellan · Donelan · O Donnellan · Donelon · Donnelan · Donnollan[1][2][3]

The Donlon coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Donlon 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.

Donlon crest gifts

Clan Donlon Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapWO72 Classic Cap - Donlon Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Donlon Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Donlon Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RF38 Donlon Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Donlon Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Donlon surname: questions

What is the Irish form of Donlon?

Donlon is grouped with Donlan and Donnellan, which Woulfe gives as anglicised forms of Ó Domhnalláin, 'descendant of Domhnallán' (a diminutive of Domhnall).[1][3]

Where in Ireland is the Donlon name from?

Woulfe says the principal Ó Domhnalláin family was of Ui Maine, in County Galway. In the 1890 birth indexes the Donlon spelling was found principally in County Longford.[1][2]

Are Donlon and Donnellan the same name?

Matheson's 1901 list of surname varieties records Donlon as a spelling used for Donlan and Donnellan, and his 1909 report counts them together. The same list also records Donlon as a spelling used for Donnelly, a different Irish name, so not every Donlon need be a Donnellan.[2][3][4]

How common was the Donlon surname?

The 1890 birth indexes recorded 14 Donlon births, part of 76 for the whole Donnellan group.[2]

Sources

  1. Ó Domhnalláin – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-domhnallain.php
  2. Donnellan – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/donnellan.php
  3. Donlan – Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Matheson, 1901), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/484.php
  4. Donnelly – Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Matheson, 1901), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/487.php
  5. Pat Donlon obituary: First woman director of a national institution, librarian and academic, The Irish Times, 1 Aug 2026. irishtimes.com/obituaries/2026/08/01/pat-donlon-obituary-first-woma...

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