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Help[Surname] surname Dowling
Does anyone have any information about the origins or meanings of this last name? All I know is that it's from the British Isles (at least I'm fairly sure of this!).
Thanks!
Thanks!
This message was edited 10/20/2005, 2:40 PM
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Originally an English surname, but not a common one, I think. According to Reaney it's from the Old English dolling, meaning "the dull one".
It was adopted by a couple of Irish clans as the English language substitute for O Dunlaing. As a result the surname seems to be more common in Ireland than in England. All the Dowlings I've met were of Irish origin.
It was adopted by a couple of Irish clans as the English language substitute for O Dunlaing. As a result the surname seems to be more common in Ireland than in England. All the Dowlings I've met were of Irish origin.
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Thank you!
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