Surname Donnison - Meaning and Origin
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Donnison: What does the surname Donnison mean?
The last name Donnison is an English origin name. It is found primarily in Great Britain, where it is derived from the Middle English given name Don, which was also derived from a Celtic personal name meaning “lord”. Therefore, it is likely that the first people bearing this surname were of noble birth.
The surname Donnison has evolved over the years. One common variation of this surname is Donison, which is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name donn nonu meaning “guardian”. Additionally, Donovan is also a variation on the same root, with dono- meaning “dark” or “black-haired”.
Today, Donnison is a fairly common surname in the United Kingdom. It can be found in a range of records and documents, including census records, birth certificates, marriage records, military roles, and more, which will all help to expand upon a person’s family history.
Ultimately, the Donnison last name continues to remain an important part of British identity and heritage. Its evolution of meaning, in conjunction with its continued prevalence throughout the UK, is indicative of its importance throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisDonnison: Where does the name Donnison come from?
The last name Donnison is most commonly seen today in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Records indicate that the last name Donnison first appeared in England in the mid 1600s, suggesting that its original bearers were of British origin.
In terms of the current distribution of the surname Donnison throughout the English-speaking world, the United Kingdom currently has the highest number of Donnisons. Data from the Great Britain 1881 Census Place of Birth Report lists Donnison as an uncommon name, but still with presence in each of the British Isles: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
In the United States, the last name Donnison has a strong presence in the New England states. In particular, the highest level of Donnison activity is apparent in states such as Connecticut and Massachusetts. According to the 2010 US Census, approximately 1,250 Americans bear the Donnison surname, primarily concentrated in the aforementioned states.
In addition to Great Britain and the United States, Donnison is also present in Australia, Canada, and a few other countries, albeit in much lower numbers than in England or the US. All in all, Donnison is a relatively rare name, with the majority of its recognisable bearers still located in the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Donnison
The surname Donnison has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants: Donison, Donason, Donnisson
Spellings: Donisson, Donison, Donasson, Donnisson
Surnames of the same origin: Donnison, Donneison, Danison, Danison, Dunkin, Donkin, Dunning, Dunningham, Donning, Donningham, Donnin, Donnah, Donah, Donagh, Donney, Donaghue, Donoghue, Donnan, Donegan, Donnaghue, Donelly, Donnelly, Donelan, Donlan, and Dannan.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Donnison may be linked to the geographical area where the surname originates from. Donnison is of Irish origin. It is believed to be derived from the Irish name Donnghaile which means ‘unlucky’. The original form of the surname was often considered to be an insulting surname, thus variants and spellings are available in other areas, such as Donnison-Donneison-Danison in England, and Donkin-Duncan in Scotland.
The Donnison surname is also linked to Scottish and Irish families with names such as Donkin, Dune, Dunbar, Durning, and Donelly. These names usually pertained to "Dunn," which comes from the Irish or Scots Gaelic "dun," meaning "dark" or "dusky." The meaning of "dun" changed later on to mean "strong" or "fortified," and some of the descendants of the Donnison family then began to use the name Durning to carry on this sense of strength or fortification.
The Donnison surname is also connected to the Donnery, a small village in County Meath, Ireland. It is believed that the Donnery family were initially Viking settlers and later intermarried with the local Gaelic families, thus creating unique variants and spellings that are still used to this day.
No matter how it is spelt, the Donnison surname will always be linked to Irish origins, giving it a unique sense of origin and history.
Famous people with the name Donnison
- Thomas Donnison: The eldest of six children of Col. Francis Donnison and Mary Briggs, he was born in Jamaica. He was a Jamaican martial artist who taught karate and self-defense to the public.
- Brigadier Eion Donnison: British Army Brigadier and governor of Gibraltar from 1996 to 2000.
- Lorna Donnison: British author, has written several books such as Beachcombing in Brittany and Explorations in Celtic countries.
- William Donnison: British Army and former commander of the 42nd Infantry.
- Piers Donnison: Member of the English Parliament for the Conservative Party.
- Jay Donnison: Award-winning British Actor, best known for his roles in Tyler Perry’s films such as “The Family That Preys” and “Why Did I Get Married?”
- Joy Donnison: Canadian singer and songwriter influenced by Classic and Jazz genres.
- Chris Donnison: Award-winning New Zealand composer and musician, best known for his work on "Peter Pan" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King".
- Juliette Donnison: British actress, best known for her role in the television series "Outlander".
- Ian Donnison: British climatologist and scientist, best known for his book “Climate Change: Evidence and Causes”.