A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowd family of Ireland.
Reg. 3188 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert a saltire or, in chief two swords in saltire, points upwards, the dexter surmounted of the sinister ar. pommels and hilts gold”
IrelandChiefs, c. 1645
Where the Dowd Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Dowd arms are recorded
The Dowd arms were recorded in Chiefs, 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 Dowd 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 Dowd Family in Ireland
The family name Dowd is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Dubhda, which translates to descendant of the dark or black-haired one. This name originated in County Sligo as part of the powerful Uí Fiachrach dynasty, which ruled over large territories in the west of Ireland for many centuries. While the family was deeply rooted in the west, they were mobile and active across the country during the seventeenth century. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Dowd family were well-established in Dublin. This period was a time of great political upheaval in Ireland, and the presence of the family in the capital suggests they were involved in the urban, commercial, or administrative life of the city during a very turbulent era of Irish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó Dubhda
Derived from the Gaelic word dubh meaning dark or black.
This name
DowdA descendant of the dark or black-haired individual.
also spelled
O'Dowd
Dowd
Dowde
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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
