Surname Dunnivan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Dunnivan: What does the surname Dunnivan mean?
The surname Dunnivan does not have a specific meaning that can be traced because it seems to be either altered or anglicized from a different original surname. It is most likely derived from the Irish surname Donovan. "Donovan" is an anglicized version of the original Gaelic name "Donnabhain," which means "descendant of Donndubhán." Here, "Donndubhán" is a personal name composed of the elements "donn" meaning "brown" and "dubhán," a diminutive of "dubh" meaning "black." Therefore, the interpreted meaning could relate to someone who is a descendant of "the little dark or black one." However, without concrete evidence tracing the exact lineage and transformations of the surname Dunnivan, a definitive meaning cannot be established. It's also important to note that surnames can have multiple origins and meanings varying by region and language evolution.
Order DNA origin analysisDunnivan: Where does the name Dunnivan come from?
The surname Dunnivan is of Irish origin. It originated from the Gaelic name Donndubhán, which is composed of the elements "donn," meaning "brown," and "dubh," meaning "black." Interestingly, "án" is a diminutive suffix, so the surname could translate to "little dark or brown one." These original Gaelic types of surnames were formed by adding either a patronymic or descriptive suffix to the original personal name of the father.
Generally, the Dunnivan name was initially found in County Cork in the southern part of Ireland, a region once known as Desmond, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They were descended from the O'Donovans who were in turn descended from the ancient Kings of Ireland, the MacCarthys.
As with many Irish surnames, many bearers of the name Dunnivan emigrated from Ireland, especially during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Today, the Dunnivan surname, sometimes seen as Donovan, can be found primarily in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK, but it is less common. Despite it being scarce, the presence of the Dunnivan name still persists around the world.
Variations of the surname Dunnivan
The surname Dunnivan is of Irish origin and has various spellings that include Donovan, Donavon, Donavan, Donnovan, and Donnivan. These common variances in spelling are due to anglicisation from the original Irish name “Ó Donndubháin.”
Other versions are also found as O'Donovan, O'Donavon, O'Donavan, O'Donnovan, and O'Donnivan. It should be noted that the addition of 'O' signifying 'grandson of' or 'descendant of' in Gaelic. Sometimes, the name can be recorded without this prefix too.
Additionally, regional differences and translation over time have resulted in the surname appearing as Dunovan or even Dunnavan. It could also be confused with or misspelt as Donevan or Doneavan.
The surname shares its origins with the names Dunn and Donovan. The variants of the surname may have also varied into other less common forms due to emigration and local pronunciation differences.
In summary, the surname Dunnivan has a vast array of variants and spellings related to it, all of which find their roots in the ancient Gaelic lands of Ireland.
Famous people with the name Dunnivan
- Tony Dunneivan: Former NFL player; played eight seasons in the league as a defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Maureen Dunnivan: An American physicist and astronomer; best known for her work in neutron scattering.
- Steven Dunnivan: American novelist and screenwriter; wrote the screenplay for the hit movie Mission Impossible III.
- Ray Dunneivan: Late jazz guitarist; career spanned six decades and included work with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
- John Dunnivan: British actor; is best known for his leading roles in the Harry Potter films.
- Daisy Dunneivan: Former British politician; was a Member of Parliament in the 1980s.
- Jessie Dunnivan: Canadian playwright and actor; wrote and starred in the Tony-nominated play, Nowhere Fast.
- Liam Dunneivan: Irish actor; known for his roles in the television series Vikings and The Tudors.
- Ryan Dunneivan: American musician; is the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Good Charlotte.
- Maureen Dunnivan-Smith: American painter; has exhibited her work in numerous galleries around the world.