Map of Ireland showing where the Donnellan arms are recorded
The Donnellan arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Donnellan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Donnellan Family in Ireland
The surname Donnellan originates from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Domhnalláin, which translates to a descendant of Domhnallán. This given name is a diminutive form of Domhnall, a traditional name meaning world ruler. The family traces its roots to the province of Connacht, specifically within the territory of County Galway, where they served as prominent hereditary scholars and poets to the local chieftains. By the middle of the seventeenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in Dublin. This migration to the capital city in 1645 reflects the broader social shifts occurring in Ireland during a period of significant political upheaval. As the family integrated into urban life, they maintained their connection to their ancestral heritage while adapting to the changing landscape of seventeenth-century Ireland.
Donnellan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Domhnall
Derived from the Proto-Celtic elements for world and mighty ruler.
This name
DonnellanA patronymic surname signifying descendant of the world-mighty ruler.
also spelled
Donolan
Related arms
Donnolanvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1969
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654–1656
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
