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Irish surname

Downing: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Duinnín, Ó Dúinín · 'descendant of Duinnín' (diminutive of donn, brown)

Woulfe (1923) lists Downing among the anglicised forms of Ó Duinnín, 'descendant of Duinnín', the name of a literary family of Corca Laoighdhe in South-west Cork who became hereditary historians to MacCarthy More. He adds that in Co. Kerry a different name, Ó Dúnadhaigh, is sometimes incorrectly anglicised Downing. In 1890 the birth indexes held 15 Downing entries, 6 in Kerry and 5 in Cork.

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Coat of arms associated with the Downing surname
Irish formÓ Duinnín, Ó Dúinín
Meaning'descendant of Duinnín' (diminutive of donn, brown)
CountiesKerry, Cork
Other spellings4
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Origin of the Downing name

Woulfe gives Downing under Ó Duinnín (variant Ó Dúinín): 'a literary family of Corca Laoighdhe, in South-west Cork, who became hereditary historians to MacCarthy More; also of a midland family'. In Munster the name is 'generally anglicised Dineen and Dinneen, but sometimes Downing'. In Kerry, Ó Dúnadhaigh of Luachair is sometimes incorrectly anglicised Downing.[1][2][3]

  1. 1624Sir George Downing born in Dublin, according to Webb.[5]
  2. 1663Sir George Downing created a baronet (Webb).[5]
  3. 189015 Downing birth entries in Ireland: 6 in Kerry and 5 in Cork.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. Kerry6 of the 15 entries in 1890; Woulfe: in Kerry Ó Dúnadhaigh is 'sometimes incorrectly anglicised Downing'.[4][3]
Co. Cork5 Downing births in 1890; Ó Duinnín literary family of Corca Laoighdhe, South-west Cork.[4][1]

Notable people named Downing

Sir George Downing1624–1684Born in Dublin (Webb); envoy to Holland; Downing Street in London perpetuates his name; died at East Hatley, Cambridgeshire.[5]

Other spellings

O Downine · O Dunnyne · O Downyne · O Dwnyn[1][2]

The Downing coat of arms

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

Downing surname: questions

Is Downing an Irish surname?

Woulfe lists Downing as one of the anglicised forms of the Irish surnames Ó Duinnín and Ó Dúinín, and says that in Co. Kerry Ó Dúnadhaigh is sometimes incorrectly anglicised Downing.[1][2][3]

What does the surname Downing mean?

Woulfe gives Ó Duinnín as 'descendant of Duinnín', a diminutive of donn, brown.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Downing name from?

In 1890 there were 15 Downing birth entries, 6 in Kerry and 5 in Cork. Woulfe places the Ó Duinnín literary family in Corca Laoighdhe, South-west Cork.[4][1]

Are Downing and Dinneen the same name?

Woulfe gives both as anglicised forms of Ó Duinnín: in Munster it is 'generally anglicised Dineen and Dinneen, but sometimes Downing'.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Duinnín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-duinnin.php
  2. Ó Dúinín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-duinin.php
  3. Ó Dúnadhaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dunadhaigh.php
  4. Downing — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/downing.php
  5. Sir George Downing — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirGeorgeDowning.php

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