A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doolan family of Ireland.
Reg. 2918 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. three crescents in pale az. betw. two pellets in fess”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Doolan Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Doolan arms are recorded
The Doolan 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 Doolan 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 Doolan Family in Ireland
The family name Doolan originates from the Gaelic Irish name Ó Dubhláin, which translates to a descendant of the dark or black challenger. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the Dublin area, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in the city by 1645. During this era, Dublin served as a bustling center of trade and political activity, placing the Doolan family at the heart of a rapidly changing Irish society. As the name spread from its ancestral roots, it became a fixture of the local community, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of families living through the turbulent historical shifts of the 1600s. The name has since persisted as a significant part of the cultural landscape, representing a lineage that has been documented in the capital for nearly four centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dubhshláin
Derived from the Gaelic words for dark or black and defiance.
This name
DoolanRefers to a descendant of the dark challenger or one who is defiantly dark.
also spelled
Doolen
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
