This page honors the memory of my Great-Grandmother
Margaret Dunn
William Hugh Monahan (My Great-Grandfather) was born on November 8, 1855 in Portland, ME. He married Margaret Dunn on July 15, 1884 in Boston, Massachusetts. Margaret Dunn was born December 1860 in Canada (My Great-Grandmother). Margaret's Mother was Mary Maguire (Mother: Bridget Kerwin; Father: Bernard Maguire; both of Ireland) born February 1840 in Ireland. Margaret's Father: John Dunn (born in Canada). Children: Fred V. born on 2/19/1888; Mary born on 7/3/1890 in Boston, MA; Grace Elizabeth Monaghan born February 22, 1892 in Boston, Massachusetts (My Grandmother) and Helen (Grace's twin who died at birth 2/22/1892).
Derivation of the Dunn Surname
The history of this ancient Meath family traces its ancestry as a family of Irish origin before the year 1100 and appears first in the ancient records in Meath.
The O Doinn first came to prominence as lords of the area around Tinnehinch in the north of the modern County Laois, and were known as Lords of Iregan up to the seventeenth century. At that time the surname was generally Anglicised as 'O Doyne'. Today the name is still extremely common in that part of Ireland, though it is now also widespread elsewhere. Perhaps because of the stronger English influence, in Ulster the name is generally spelled 'Dunn', while it is almost invariably 'Dunne' in other parts.
In Irish O Duinn or O Doinn (doinn is the genitive case of the adjective donn - brown) it is more often written Dunne than Dunn in English. The form O'Doyne, common in the seventeenth century, is now almost obsolete. In fact of 364 births registered for them in a given year, 313 had the final E and only 51 were Dunn. From this it can be estimated that the total number of people so called in Ireland to-day is approximately 15,000, giving them twenty-seventh place in the list of commonest surnames in Ireland.
This sept originated in Co. Laois (Queen's County) and formed one of the principal families of Leinster, their chief being Lords of Iregan in that county.
The sept is one of those specially mentioned in the mid-sixteenth century official orders as hostile and dangerous to the English interest. It is in that part of the country that Dunnes are, appropriately, now to be found in greatest numbers, though they have spread far and wide. Nearly all those who spell the name ‘Dunn’ came from Ulster. At least one of the name is to be found in the gallery of famous Irishmen, viz., Gillananaomh O Duinn (1102-1160), the historian and poet. One was killed at the battle of Aughrim in 1391. Another very active Jacobite was James O'Dunne (c. 1700-1758). Bishop of Ossory, most of whose life was spent in France in the service of which country several of his relatives distinguished themselves as diplomatists and soldiers. In modern times Charles Dunn (1799-1872), was a notable judge in the U.S.A; and Col. Humphrey O'Dunne was famous for his bravery in the attack on Savannah in 1774.
Dunne Clan Motto: "Mullach Abu" (On top forever)
For T-Shirts, Mousepads, mugs, clothing and lots more with the Dunne Coat of Arms and the Dunne Irish Cottage image above, please go to the Irish Country Store ~ Very reasonably priced products ~ Come on over and take a look!