Surname Donn - Meaning and Origin

Donn: What does the surname Donn mean?

The last name Donn is of Irish origin. It is derived from the ancient Gaelic name "Ó Donn," meaning "descendant of Donn." Donn is the Irish Gaelic equivalent of the English name "Daniel," which itself is derived from the Hebrew phrase "dān yēlēl," meaning "God is my judge."

The surname Donn is most commonly found in Ulster and Connacht, two of the provinces in the Republic of Ireland, as well as among descendants of Irish emigrants throughout the world. While the origins of the name Ó Donn are long lost to antiquity, it is likely the name belonged to a powerful and influential figure in Irish history.

People with the last name Donn have established a rich legacy in almost all fields. Sporting heroes, academics, artists, musicians, and industry leaders have all contributed something unique and transforming to the societies they live and work in. People with the Donn last name are proud of their shared heritage, and are keen to celebrate and share the accomplishments of past and present Donn's with their families, friends, and wider communities.

The Donn surname has endured throughout the centuries, and is likely to remain for a long time to come - a testament to its strong and distinctive cultural roots.

Donn: Where does the name Donn come from?

Donn is a popular surname found mostly in Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Originally derived from the Irish Gaelic surname "Ó Donnchadha," which means Descendant of Donchadh (a personal name meaning "brown warrior"), the surname Donn is particularly common in Ireland, though it is also found in other countries as well.

In the United States, the Donn surname has been present since the mid-1700s, primarily among descendants of immigrants from Irish and Scottish backgrounds. Today, the thousand or so Donn families in the United States make their home in a variety of locations, ranging from major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles to smaller towns and rural areas.

In Canada, Donn is chiefly found in Ontario and British Columbia, though its distribution is decreasing. Australia is home to the second-largest concentration of Donn families globally, with over three thousand members residing Down Under.

The Donn surname remains quite popular in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Kerry, Cork, Wexford, and Limerick. It's estimated that nearly one percent of all people living in Candlehold, Ireland bear the Donn surname.

No matter where they live, Donn families across the world have helped to shape and influence the culture in their respective countries. The Donn family name carries with it a rich history, a legacy which continues to be seen and felt in many parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Donn

Donn is an Irish surname derived from the Old Irish O’Donn, which means "descendant of Donn," a personal name derived from two elements: "donn" meaning "brown-haired one" and "inghean" meaning "youngster or descendant." Variations and spellings of the surname Donn include Donne, Don, O'Donne, Donneh, Donnell, Donnet, Donnee, Donney, and Donnelly.

The variant Donne is used as an English surname, derived from the French surname le Donne, a form of the Latin name De Donato. Donne is also an English pronunciation of the Gaelic (Irish) surname Donn, which is spelt differently but meaning the same brown-haired one. Don is a shortened form of the Irish surname Donn, derived from O’Donn, meaning "descendant of Donn."

O’Donne is an alternate spelling of the Irish surname O’Donn meaning "descendant of Donn." Donneh is an alternate spelling of the Irish surname Donne or Donoghue, meaning "descendant of Donn." Donnell is an Anglicized Irish surname derived from O’Donn or O’Donne, meaning "descendant of Donn." Donnet is a variant of Donn used as a Scottish surname, of American origin due to the emigration of Scots in the 19th century. Donnee is a French surname derived from the Old French doné, meaning "given." Donney is a variant of the Irish surname Donn. Donnelly is an Anglicized Irish surname derived from the Gaelic O’Donnghaile, which means "descendant of Donnghal," another personal variant of the Gaelic Donn.

Famous people with the name Donn

• Michael Donn, an Australian footballer
• Bryan Donn, an American professional golfer
• Robert Donn, Australian composer and conductor
• John Donn, an American psychiatrist, author, and educator
• Eileen Donn, a British portrait painter
• Richard Donn, a British long track speed skater
• Alexander Donn, an American cyclist
• William Donn, an Australian politician
• Christina Donn, an English actress
• William Donn Jr., an Australian politician
• Liz Donn, a British Paralympic swimmer
• Mairead Donn, an Australian Paralympic wheelchair basketball 13.John Donn, an Irish composer and arranger 14.Raymond Donn, an English motocross racer
• Maggie Donn, an Australian Paralympic wheelchair basketball player
• Ed Donn, an American screenwriter
• Jack Donn, an American film director
• Brendan Donn, a Northern Irish footballer
• Shawn Donn, an Australian wheelchair rugby player
• Jesse Donn, an American film producer and director

Other surnames

DonDonachieDonachyDonadtDonaghueDonaghyDonahoDonahoeDonahooDonahueDonaldDonaldsonDonartyDonateDonathDonatiDonatinDonatiusDonatoDonattDonatusDoncheDondonDoneDöneckeDoneganDonehooDonehueDöneke