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Irish surname

O'Devine: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Daimhín; Ó Duibhín · Ó Daimhín: 'descendant of Daimhín' (diminutive of damh, bard, poet); Ó Duibhín: 'descendant of Duibhín' (diminutive of dubh, black)

Woulfe (1923) lists O'Devine and Devine as English forms of two different Irish surnames: Ó Daimhín, an Oriel family of the same stock as the Maguires, chiefs of Tirkennedy in the east of Co. Fermanagh, and Ó Duibhín, 'a scattered surname'. In Matheson's 1890 births index Devine had 81 entries in Ireland, principally in Tyrone, Dublin and Roscommon.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Devine surname
Irish formÓ Daimhín; Ó Duibhín
MeaningÓ Daimhín: 'descendant of Daimhín' (diminutive of damh, bard, poet); Ó Duibhín: 'descendant of Duibhín' (diminutive of dubh, black)
CountiesFermanagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Roscommon
Other spellings5

Origin of the O'Devine name

Ó Daimhín: an Oriel family, of the same stock as the Maguires, who were chiefs of Tirkennedy, in the east of Co. Fermanagh; now generally Devine in Ulster and Davin in Munster and Connacht. Ó Duibhín: a separate, scattered surname, often an alias for Ó Dubháin. Woulfe says the English forms cannot always be told apart.[1][3]

  1. 1278Variant spelling Ó Doimhín used in the Annals of Loch Cé.[2]
  2. 189081 Devine births registered in Ireland, chiefly Tyrone, Dublin and Roscommon.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. FermanaghÓ Daimhín were chiefs of Tirkennedy, in the east of Co. Fermanagh (Woulfe).[1]
Co. TyroneNamed first of the three counties where Devine was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. DublinAmong the three counties where Devine was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. RoscommonAmong the three counties where Devine was principally found in 1890.[4]

Other spellings

Devine · Davin · Devin · Devins · Divine[1][3][5]

The O'Devine coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Devine 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.

O'Devine crest gifts

Clan Odevine Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapKN15 Classic Cap - Odevine Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Odevine Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Odevine Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ED80 Odevine Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Odevine Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

O'Devine surname: questions

Is O'Devine the same name as Devine?

Yes. Woulfe lists O'Devine and Devine among the English forms of Ó Daimhín and of Ó Duibhín, and Matheson's 1901 list of name varieties refers O'Devine to Devine.[1][3][6]

What does the surname Devine mean?

It depends on the family. Ó Daimhín is 'descendant of Daimhín', a diminutive of damh (bard, poet); Ó Duibhín is 'descendant of Duibhín', a diminutive of dubh (black).[1][3]

Where in Ireland is the Devine name from?

Woulfe places the Ó Daimhín family in Oriel, as chiefs of Tirkennedy in the east of Co. Fermanagh, and says the name is now generally Devine in Ulster. In 1890 Devine births were principally in Tyrone, Dublin and Roscommon.[1][4]

Are Devine and Davin related?

Woulfe says Ó Daimhín is now generally anglicised Devine in Ulster and Davin in Munster and Connacht, and that in West Galway it is sometimes made Davy and Davis.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Daimhín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-daimhin.php
  2. Ó Doimhín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-doimhin.php
  3. Ó Duibhín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-duibhin.php
  4. Devine — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/devine.php
  5. Devine (list no. 461) — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/461.php
  6. O'Devine (list no. 1650) — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1650.php

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