Dineen
Name History
There appears to be two distinct
histories of the Dineen name and it's origins. One is in England
and the other is in Ireland.
Below is a Name History for Dineen
done by the Historical Research Center Inc. It was done in approximately
1990. I believe that this one is the Irish history of the Dineen
name. Also on this page I have the translation
of the Dineen family name history that was done in approximately 1964
when a coat of arms for the name was done in Germany. In addition
to this information there is some name definitions
and history of the Dineen name that I've jotted down over the years.
Some I've gathered from books and web sites, others I don't have a source
for the information. One note of interest that I don't have the source
for is the variation of Dineen and Dinneen. Dineen denotes Catholic
and Dinneen denotes Protestant. I'm still trying to track down where
I got that from. Further down on this page is the Dineen
Coat of Arms
I've found so far. If anyone has any other information
on the subject of the name history of coat of arms for Dineen I'd be happy
to post it here.
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Dineen Name Definitions and
History
From A Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges
(Oxford Press, 1989) (Page 147):
Dineen Irish: Anglicized form of Gael. O Duinnin
"descendant of Duinnin', a byname from a dim. of donn brown, dark
(see Dunn).
Vars. : Dinneen, Dinan, Dunnion; Dunning, Denning; O'Dunneen,
O'Dunnion.
From New Dictionary of American Family Names by Elsdon C. Smith,
Gramercy Publishing Co.,N.Y. 1988
Deneen (Ir.) Variant of Dineen q.v. (Page 114)
Dineen, Dinneen (Ir.) Grandson of little Donn. (brown)
(Page 120)
From an unknown book on Family Name histories: I am trying
to find the book I copied this information out of almost 12 years ago in
a library. How was I supposed to know I would some day publish a
web page and actually need to cite where I got things from. When
I find the book I will list the title here.
"O’Dinneen, (Downing)"
"In our own day the great majority of Dinneens,
who rarely if ever have the prefix O in English, belong to Co. Cork families,
especially to the south-western part anciently known as Corca Laoidhe.
It was there the sept originated. It provided a succession of hereditary
poets and historians to the McCarthys and occasionally, also, to the O’Sullivans.
Even after the destruction of the Gaelic order, the literary tradition
of the O’Dinneens was continued, TADHG O’Dinneen, poet to the EARL OF CLANCARTY,
being a prominent member of the 17th century school of poetry at Blarney.
The best known man of the name, Father Patrick Dinneen (1860-1934), compiler
of the standard Irish-English dictionary, followed the literary tradition
of his forebears. In Irish the name is O’DUINNIN, which in Co. Kerry
has a variant O’DUNIN, anglicized Downing."
From the Old
Irish Kingdoms and Clans (A supplement ot Ireland History in Maps)
web page.
Corca Luighe
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 Monarch 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.
Source: http://www.clon.ie/text/system/clehis1.html
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DINEEN
Family Name History
Historical Research Center,
Inc. 1990
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The Irish surname Dineen is one of several anglicized forms of the
Gaelic surname O Duinnin, others being (O) Dinneen, Dinan and Downing.
O Duinnin, which itself literally signifies "the descendant of the son
of the tawny one", 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 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 MacCarthys 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. Similarly, an even more famous bearer of the
name was Father Patrick Dinneen (1860-1934), compiler of the standard Irish-English
dictionary. The surname was introduced to the New World at an early
date, and Cunard’s Shipping lists from the beginning of the eighteenth
century show it to have been spelt variously as Dinan, Dinane and Denning.
The name also appears in these forms in the "census" of 1659, 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.
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
Copyright©1988,1989,1990 The Historical Research Center, Inc.
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Translated Dineen Name History.
Done by a German company in approx. 1964 in Kaiserslautern Germany.
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The International Coat of Arms Registry, Ban Rietstap II contains the
following information for the name DINEEN:
DINEEN
Ancestors immigrated from Holland to England to the Earldom of Pembrokeshire
in the 15th century, and with true diligence and virtue established respect
and a good name.
In the year 1667, the Healer and Samaritan, Doctor William Harold Dineen
was granted the Family Coat of Arms by the Royal Authorities in recognition
of his many contributions to the nation.
Doctor William Harold Dineen conducted research into the causes and
treatments for Scurvy and the Plague which furnished good as well as successful
results. Thereby, Doctor William Harold Dineen helped many people
regain and maintain their health.
In the following century members of the family lineage immigrated to
Africa, India, Australia, Canada and North America as missionaries.
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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Dineen
Coat of Arms
There appear to be three Dineen coat
of arms. I haven't figured out which one is the "real" one yet.
If anyone can help clarify why there
are three coat of arms for this family name please email me so that I can
post here to this web page. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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