312 Global DOONEY Family Members

DOONEY Family History

This unusual surname may be either of Old Gaelic Irish or of early medieval Scottish origin. If the former, Dooney is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Dunadhaigh", descendant of Dunadhach, a male given name meaning "fortress-holder", from "dun", fortress, fortification. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O", male descendant of, or "Mac", denoting "son of". Two distinct septs of this name existed in reland; the lesser one belonged to the ancient territory of Ui Maine (mid Galway and South Roscommon), and the more important family was located in Luachair - the old name of a district lying on the borders of Counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick.