Surname Dawney - Meaning and Origin
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Dawney: What does the surname Dawney mean?
The last name Dawney is said to be of English origin. The name Dawney is believed to be a derivative of the name Dawn, which is an English name of Old Norse origin. It is thought to have derived from the Old Norse elements 'dag' meaning 'day', and 'ny' meaning 'new'. Therefore, the meaning of Dawney could be interpreted as ‘of the new day’.
Historically, the name Dawney is derived from the Old English dialect, in which the word ‘dawn’ was used to refer to a particular type of workman – a skilled craftsman who worked in the day and returned home in the evening. From this origin, it would not be incorrect to assume that the family bearing the name Dawney were, at some point, either skilled craftsmen or those who were regularly employed through a typical working day.
There is also a possibility that this name was originally the surname taken by a person who left their home in search of a new life for themselves (i.e., heading ‘into the dawn’). It is also possible that this is a name taken on by a family who identified with a certain revolution or group of people who ‘dawned’ a new way of life.
In terms of modern-day usage, the surname Dawney continues to be used in England, chiefly in the South West of the country. It is likely that the remaining bearers of the name are descendants of skilled craftsmen and those who sought out a new life in the dawn of a new era.
Order DNA origin analysisDawney: Where does the name Dawney come from?
The last name Dawney is not particularly common today. According to Ancestry.com, Dawney is considered a very rare surname with only about 94 people bearing the name in the United States. The last name has its roots in Britain; in the 1891 UK census, there were over 500 people with the last name Dawney living in England and Wales. The holder of the surname and its variations may originally be a converson from the ancient Viking-Scandinavian given names Dala or Dalaigh.
The last name is more common in Britain today than it is in the United States. In the 2001 UK census, over 1,500 people had the surname Dawney. Most live in modern day England although some can be found in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales as well. In the United States, the numbers of people with the surname Dawney have declined over the past several decades.
While the last name Dawney is relatively uncommon, it is not completely obsolete. People with the last name still live in both the United States and Britain, though more of them are concentrated in Britain. There is hope that with proper genealogy research, the true origin of the name and its extended branches of the family tree will one day soon be fully revealed.
Variations of the surname Dawney
The surname Dawney is derived from the French word Donne, which means "gift" or "present." This surname is a variation of Donnay, which is a patronymic name, meaning son of Donne. Other spellings of this surname include Donney, Donny, Doney, Dony, and Doni. Variations of the surname Dawney are found in numerous countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
In England, the spelling of Dawney is the most commonly used, while in the United States it is often spelled Donney or Doney. Other spellings of Dawney include Donny, Dony, Donni, and Donnay. The surname is often associated with notable families in England, such as the Dawney family of Cornwall, the Donny family of Lancashire, and the Dony family of Norfolk.
Variations in other countries include Donnay in Germany, Dohni in Italy, Donne in Belgium, and Donny in Hungary. Additionally, there are some surname variants derived from locations, such as Dawney in Scotland, Doran in Ireland, and Duane in Wales.
The popularity of the surname Dawney is believed to be due to its geographical distribution. The surname is found in many countries, including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, and the United States. As such, many descendants of people with this surname can be found all over the world, and the spelling may have changed over time.
Famous people with the name Dawney
- Jack Dawney: an actor best known for his role in the TV series 'Eastenders'
- Victoria Dawney: an English opera singer with the OC and Royal Ballet
- Michael Dawney: a British musician and author
- Paul Dawney: a British politician and former Member of Parliament, also the recipient of the prestigious 2012 Special Recognition Award by the Town and Country Planning Association
- Stewart Dawney: an Australian professional League of Legends player
- Lucas Dawney: a former Australian rules footballer
- Peter Dawney: a former British diplomat
- Mark Dawney: an English former rugby union and rugby league footballer
- David Dawney: a Northern Irish politician
- Christopher Charles Dawney: a former English cricketer