Gaelic sept

Duane

Ó Dubháin

Also: Dwane, Devane, Downes

“descendant of Dubhán, 'black'”

🏔 Meath · An Mhí 🏔 Cork · Corcaigh 🏔 Galway · Gaillimh 🏔 Limerick · Luimneach Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

Woulfe finds several families of Ó Dubháin: lords of Knowth in Meath, dispossessed early; a Corca Laoighdhe family in south-west Cork, some of whom called themselves Kidney; a Connemara family, sometimes Devany; and an old Limerick family who used Downes. At the end of the 16th century it was common across the southern half of Ireland.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó Dubháin
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
Dubháin — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Duane an Irish name?

Duane is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

People of the name

William J. Duane ↗ (1780–1865) · born in County Tipperary

From the people listed on the county pages; sharing a surname does not mean sharing descent.

Where the Duane country is

County Meath County Cork County Galway County Limerick Cork Limerick Galway Navan Ashbourne Cobh Midleton Mallow 13 castles in Meath 37 castles in Cork 37 castles in Galway 14 castles in Limerick

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Broderick · Galway, Cork Canavan · Galway, Cork Casey · Cork, Limerick Collins · Cork, Limerick Connolly · Galway, Meath Curtin · Cork, Limerick Daly · Cork, Galway Darcy · Galway, Meath Donovan · Cork, Limerick Downey · Galway, Cork Duggan · Cork, Galway Forde · Galway, Cork Gleeson · Limerick, Cork Hallinan · Cork, Limerick

Quick answers

Is Duane an Irish name?

Duane is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó Dubháin.

What does the surname Duane mean?

Duane (Irish: Ó Dubháin) means “descendant of Dubhán, 'black'”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Duane from?

The historic homeland of the Duane name is Meath, Cork, Galway, Limerick. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Duane?

Ó Dubháin. Related spellings: Dwane, Devane, Downes.

Looking for the Duane family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Duane ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

Not your spelling? Try the full A–Z. Know more about the Duane name? Add to the story.