Donan

Donan
Recorded in several spellings including Donan, Donnan, Dunan, Dunnan, Dunnon, and possibly others, this interesting surname is Irish. It derives from the pre 10th century medieval Gaelic O' Dunain, from County Fermanagh. The original nameholders were known as "erenagh", which translates as lay lords, and described a hereditary situation where the tenancy of the local church and lands was held by the erenagh, even when in some cases the original church itself had disappeared. The "erenagh" also held the ancient privileges of the church and maintained a priest. Sometime in the 16th Century the church reclaimed its right and following the Reformation the church itself lost most of its exemptions. This surname is quite rare, but recordings include Ann Donan, aged 21, who left Ireland on the ship Independence bound for New York, on July 15th 1846, at the very begining of the fatal Potato Famine, whilst James Dunnan and his wife Jane (nee Thompson), were witnesses at the christening of their son Hugh, at Kilwood, County Down, on June 18th 1867. The first recorded spelling of the family name in surviving church records may be that of Alexander Donnan. This was dated January 20th 1762, when he was christened at Seaforde, County Down, during the reign of King George 111, known as "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Donan — • Donan, irlandais, fondateur d un monastère dans les Hébrides, au début du VIIème siècle, massacré par les Danois. Fête le 15 avril. • Donan, disciple de saint Brieuc. Fête le 15 avril …   Dictionnaire des saints

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  • Donan — Original name in latin Donan Name in other language Donan State code ID Continent/City Asia/Jakarta longitude 7.2066 latitude 111.6374 altitude 66 Population 0 Date 2012 01 20 …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • Donan d'Eigg — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Saint Donan et Donan. Donan d’Eigg Naissance VIe siècle Irlande (?) Décès 17 avril 617  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • donan — dört yaşar at …   Çağatay Osmanlı Sözlük

  • Eilean Donan — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Eilean et Donan. Eilean Donan …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Château d'Eilean Donan — Eilean Donan Eilean Donan Vue d Eilean Donan et de son château. Géographie Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Eilean Donan Castle — Eilean Donan Eilean Donan Vue d Eilean Donan et de son château. Géographie Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Eilean Donan — Infobox Scottish island latitude=57.27 longitude= 5.52 GridReference=NG880260 celtic name= Eilean Donan norse name= meaning of name= Island of Donan area=1 ha area rank= highest elevation= 3 m Population=1 population rank= 94= main settlement=… …   Wikipedia

  • Saint-donan — Administration Pays France Région Bretagne Département Côtes d’Armor Arrondissement Saint Brieuc Canton Pl …   Wikipédia en Français

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