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Mourne Mountains, County Down
Photograph: Laureljade · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Ulster

County Down

An Dún

Known as Mourne Country. For the Mourne Mountains in the south of the county, where Slieve Donard carries the highest known passage tomb in Britain or Ireland on its summit.

Did you know? Tradition holds that Ireland's three patron saints (Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille) all lie buried on one hill at Downpatrick.
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

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Clans & surnames of Down
Bell — Ulster Scots · “at the bell, or 'the handsome' (bel)” Campbell Mac Cathmhaoil (adopted) Scottish (gallowglass & planter) · “cam beul, 'crooked mouth'” Devaney Ó Duibheamhna Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubheamhain — dubh, 'black', with Eamhain, the old name of Navan Fort” Doran Ó Deoráin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Deoradhán, 'the exile, the pilgrim'” Ferguson Mac Fearghusa Ulster Scots / Gaelic · “son of Fearghus, 'man-strength'” Garvey Ó Gairbhith Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gairbhith, 'rough peace'” Gill Mac an Ghoill Norse-Gaelic · “son of the foreigner” Graham — Ulster Scots (Border) · “from Grantham — 'grey home'” Jenkins — (Welsh / Cornish name) Welsh & Cornish settlers · “'little John' — Jenkin, a pet-form of John with the '-kin' ending” Johnston Mac Seáin (sometimes) Ulster Scots (Border) · “John's town” Magee Mag Aoidh Gaelic sept · “son of Aodh, 'fire'” McCullough Mac Cú Uladh Gaelic sept · “son of Cú Uladh, 'the Hound of Ulster'” McGuinness Mag Aonghusa Gaelic dynasty · “son of Aonghus” McKeown Mac Eoin Norman-Gaelic · “son of Eoin or Eoghan — John, or the older Irish Eoghan” Mitchell Mistéil Norse-Scots · “from Michael” Morrison Mac Muiris / Ó Muirgheasáin Ulster Scots / Gaelic · “son of Maurice / descendant of Muirgheasán” Murray Ó Muireadhaigh / Mac Muireadhaigh Gaelic sept & Scots · “descendant of Muireadhach, 'seafarer / lord'” O'Hare Ó hÍr / Ó hAichir Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ír, 'long-lasting' — or of Aichear, 'fierce'” Rice Rís Norman-Welsh · “from Welsh Rhys” Rooney Ó Ruanaidh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ruanadh, 'the champion'” Savage Sábhaois Norman · “le sauvage — 'the wild one'” Thompson Mac Thómais Ulster Scots · “son of Thomas” Wilson — Ulster Scots / English · “son of Will”

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On the ground in Down

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Down?

An Dún. Down is one of the 9 counties of Ulster (Cúige Uladh).

Who ruled County Down in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Ulaid; by 1450, Clandeboye O'Neills & MacDonnells. The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Down?

Names historically associated with Down include Bell, Campbell, Devaney, Doran, Ferguson, Garvey, Gill, Graham, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Down

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.