Ó Dubháin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó DUBHÁIN—I—O Dovayne, O Dwane, O Duan, O Dowane, O Doane, O Downe, Dewane, Devane, Divane, Divan, Dwane, Duane, Dwan, Duan, Dune, Doane, Dooan, Doon, Down, Downes, (Devine, Devany), &c., and by 'translation' Kidney; 'descendant of Dubhán' (a diminutive of dubh, black); the name of several distinct families, viz.: (1) a Meath family, anciently lords of Cnodhbha, now anglicised Knowth, in the parish of Monkstown, but dispossessed at an early period and dispersed through Leinster; (2) a family of Corca Laoighdhe in South-west Cork, still numerous in that county, but sometimes calling themselves Kidney in English; (3) a Connemara family, an old family in that district and still well represented, but the name is sometimes made Devany in English, as happens sometimes also in Mayo; and (4) an old Limerick family who now sometimes anglicise the name Downes. At the end of the 16th century, Ó Dubháin was a common surname throughout the southern half of Ireland. Ó Duibhín, which is synonymous, is often used interchangeably with it, especially in Connacht.

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