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Dynan
Dynan is a nick
name based surname (ie one that describes and ancestors face, figure,
temper, morals or habits. It is one of a number of anglicised versions
of a name O'Duinnin. Other spelling variations include Dinan, Dinant,
Dineen, Dinneen, Dinane, Dinat, Dinham, Dynham, Dyneham, Deneen,
Denoon, Denune, Dunnion, Downing, Dunning, Denning; O'Dunneen.
O'Dunnion is
derived from the celtic word 'duinnin', meaning "dark brown".
The name literally means "the descendant of the son of the tawny
one", but the name is rarely found with the 'O' prefix.
The name and
its derivations are found all over Europe, in fact anywhere there
were Celts, including in
| France |
During
the 10th century in the city of Dinan in Brittany |
| Belgium |
End of the 11th, beginning of the 12th centuries, in the city
of Dinant (once Deonan) and later the name Dinand appeared in
the Neufchateau region of Belgium in the early 1600s moving
to the La Rochelle area of France |
| England
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First
found in Monmouthshire where they were recorded as a family
of great antiquity seated at Dynham with manor and estates in
that shire. |
At the turn
of the last century Dineen and Dinneen were the two preferred spellings
of the name, both of which were centered in Co. Cork. Earlier in
the census of 1659, Dinane was a principal name of county Cork and
even at this early stage the prefix "o" was largely becoming defunct,
unlike just a century earlier, when the sept was commemorated as
follows by the topographical poet O’Heerin:
Uaithni
Agamar, green are its hills,
The Eoganacht of the lands of Cathbadh;
Delightful are the borders of the extensive plain,
The hereditary right of the clan O Duinnin.
After the defeat
of the Irish clans, some of the clan adopted the English surname
of Downing, especially in the Kerry, where the name variant of O’DUNIN
had been used.
Duinnin is the
name of a sept primarily associated in medieval times with the southern
province of Munster and more particularly with the south-western
region of the province, now known as the county of Cork, but in
former times Corca Laoidhe.
The Corca Luighe
were a pre-Milesian race and the name Luighe was common among their
early chiefs. One of those, Lughaidh Mac Con was High King of Ireland.
According to the Book of Ballymote, Corca Luighe extended from Beann
Finn westward to Tragumina and Lough Ine and from Beal Atha Buidhe
to Tragh Claen at the rock. Each tuath of Corca Luighe was governed
by a taoiseach and beneath him were the hereditary leaders. Tuatha
O Fitcheallaigh and O Dunghalaigh merged in Clonakilty. O'Fehilly
and O'Dunlea were the taoiseacha. Oglaigh or Leaders are represented
by names which still survive, i.e. Duggan, Keady, Eady, Anglin,
Kennedy, Cagney, Hennessy, Leary, Dineen, Cronin, Hayes or O'Hea,
Murray, Dulea, Coffey, Cowhig, Cullinane, Downey, Lahiffe, Shinnick,
Deady and Muintir Oh Illigh or Hill. The O'Driscolls were the ruling
race. These races had been gradually pushed south of the Bandon
river by the Eoghanachta of which the ruling families were the O'Mahony's
and the O'Donoghues.
The sept since
its inception has had a strong literary tradition, providing a long
line of hereditary bards and historians to the chief septs of their
territory, the MacCarthy Mor and the O’Sullivans. Even after the
demise of the native Gaelic order, this tradition was carried on
by such men as Tadgh O’Dinneen, poet to the earl of Clancarty and
a prominent member of the seventeenth century school of poetry at
Blarney They are also noted as being chiefs of Uaithne, now the
barony of Owneybeg in Limerick.
Coat of
Arms & Crests
There are a number
of different coats in circulation. The accepted coat for the Irish
O'Duinnin Sept is
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Azure
(blue) shield with two swords in saltire points upwards argent
pommels and hilts are between four roses. There is a naturally
colored stag's head above the sheild and helmet
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Other crests
identified potentially belong to European families or other unidentified
derivative families.
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CREST
A notched frontal shield with a black flank. The shield is
split into two fields. There are three green diamonds in the
right field, which is silver. The left field, which is also
silver, has three blue beams which symbolize clear character,
fertility, and steadfastness and faithfulness to the Royal
house.
CREST
ORNAMENT The colors of dark blue, dark red, and gold harmoniously
surround the Helmet and Shield.
HELMET
A frontal altgotischer helmet in the color of silver, with
a closed visor, a black shoulder band and red armlets.
HEAD ORNAMENT
Over a banner in the colors of blue and green a feather ornament
in the West Indian colors of silver and blue as a symbol of
harmony.
MOTTO
Constans et Sapiens = Steadfastness to Man
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BLAZON
OF ARMS: Azure a lion passant between, three crescents gules.
Translation: The lion is the symbol of Courage, Majesty and
Generosity.
CREST:
A stag’s head proper.
MOTTO:
FIDE ET ANIMO Translation: Faith and Courage
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