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Irish surname

Devlin: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Dobhailein (also Ó Doibhilein, Ó Doibhilín) · 'descendant of Dobhailen'

Woulfe (1923) gives Devlin as Ó Dobhailein, 'descendant of Dobhailen', the name of two families: a Sligo family who were anciently chiefs of Corca Firthri, and a Tyrone family who were chiefs of Muintar Devlin on the west side of Lough Neagh and who, he says, are now very numerous throughout Ulster. In 1890, 88 of 112 Devlin births were in Ulster.

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Coat of arms associated with the Devlin surname
Irish formÓ Dobhailein (also Ó Doibhilein, Ó Doibhilín)
Meaning'descendant of Dobhailen'
CountiesTyrone, Sligo, Antrim, Armagh
Other spellings2
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Origin of the Devlin name

Two Gaelic families (Woulfe): (1) a Sligo family, anciently chiefs of Corca Firthri, frequently mentioned in the Annals; (2) a Tyrone family, chiefs of Muintar Devlin on the west side of Lough Neagh, 'now very numerous throughout Ulster'. Ó Doibhilein is the usual form in the Annals of Ulster.[1][2]

  1. 1803After Robert Emmet's failure on 23 July, Anne Devlin carries his messages to his friends.[4]
  2. 1851Anne Devlin dies in Dublin; buried at Glasnevin.[4]
  3. 1890112 Devlin births registered, 88 in Ulster; chiefly Antrim, Tyrone, Dublin, Armagh, Londonderry.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. TyroneThe Tyrone family were chiefs of Muintar Devlin, west of Lough Neagh; a principal Devlin county in 1890.[1][3]
Co. SligoA Sligo family of the name were anciently chiefs of Corca Firthri.[1]
Co. AntrimFirst of the counties where Devlin was principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. ArmaghAmong the counties where Devlin was principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. LondonderryAmong the counties where Devlin was principally found in 1890.[3]
Co. DublinAmong the counties where Devlin was principally found in 1890.[3]

Notable people named Devlin

Anne Devlinc.1778–1851Robert Emmet's servant and messenger in 1803; endured torture and over two years' imprisonment.[4]

Other spellings

O Devlin · Develin[1][2]

The Devlin coat of arms

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

Devlin surname: questions

What does the surname Devlin mean?

Woulfe gives Devlin as Ó Dobhailein, 'descendant of Dobhailen'.[1]

Is Devlin an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe gives O Devlin, Develin and Devlin as anglicised forms of Ó Dobhailein, also written Ó Doibhilein, the usual form in the Annals of Ulster.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Devlin name from?

Woulfe names a Tyrone family, chiefs of Muintar Devlin on the west side of Lough Neagh, and a Sligo family, chiefs of Corca Firthri. In 1890 Devlin births were chiefly in Antrim, Tyrone, Dublin, Armagh and Londonderry.[1][3]

Who was Anne Devlin?

Robert Emmet's servant, born about 1778. After his failure on 23 July 1803 she carried messages between him and his friends and refused under torture to reveal where he was. She died in Dublin in 1851.[4]

Sources

  1. Ó Dobhailein — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dobhailein.php
  2. Ó Doibhilein, Ó Doibhilín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-doibhilein.php
  3. Devlin — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/devlin.php
  4. Anne Devlin — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/AnneDevlin.php

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