Map of Ireland showing where the Dooley arms are recorded
The Dooley 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 Dooley 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 Dooley Family in Ireland
The surname Dooley is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Dubhlaoich, which translates to descendant of the dark hero or the black warrior. The family originated in the midlands of Ireland, specifically in the territory of Ely O'Carroll, which covers parts of modern-day County Offaly and County Tipperary. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the urban environment of Dublin. Records from 1645 confirm that members of the family were living in the city during a time of great political upheaval in Ireland. As the family moved from their rural roots into the capital, they adapted to the changing social landscape of the seventeenth century. Their history reflects the broader movement of Irish families who transitioned from traditional clan structures into the developing administrative and commercial life of Dublin.
Dooley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dubhlaoch
Derived from the Gaelic words for dark or black and hero.
This name
DooleyRefers to a dark-complexioned warrior or a hero of the shadows.
also spelled
Dowlie
Dowly
Dowlay
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. 1985
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
