About us
Benefits
Surname DNA testing is the newest tool available to genealogists!
•Surname tests allow genealogists to verify their father's father's...father's paternal ancestry.
•Surname DNA information can be very powerful when combined with traditional paper trails.
The Downey/Downs/Downie/Dowie DNA Project DNA Project is open to all the DNA Project families, of all spelling variations, and from all locations. (If your surname is not included please contact the Project Administrator.)
Participating in a Surname DNA Project provides:
•The participant's genetic DNA, which is very close (and sometimes identical) to his earliest known ancestor.
•The participant's "deep" ancestry (Haplogroup), which identifies the paternal ancestor's prehistoric origins.
•A sense of camaraderie, which is particularly strong for those who share a genetic ancestry.
•Stimulation to family research and renewed sharing of information.
•A wider sense of identity and relationship, as we begin to realize how much we are a World Family.
•A chance to compare your genetic ancestry with those of your Surname and the spelling variations.
•Your genetic matches who do not share your common surname.
•The knowledge to understand our ancestors better - particularly where the records have been lost.
Further Project Website
For more information, forums and Downey/Downie family history please see the details at: worldfamilies.net/surnames/downey/
For further information on the Downie surname in Northern Ireland and Western Scotland: http://downiesurname.yolasite.com/
Surname Background
The following sources are good are not exhaustive of the origins of the Downey/Downie surname and include:
In Scotland
•Geographical, there are Dounie/Doune/Downie place names or hill forts or Dun in most parishes in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Angus, Stirling, Perth, Inverness and Isle of Lewis;
•Geographical, from the Barony of Downie in Angus; and
•As a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Gille/Maol Domhnaich "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" or McAldonich which both are anglacised to Macgildownie, Mcildownie and Gildownie (and many variations) to Downie, mainly in the parishes of Argyll, western Perth and Inverness.
In Ireland
•O’Dunadhaigh is a person identified with a fort or Dun. This surname is found mostly in County Galway, South west Cork and Leinster. The surname is Anglacised to Downey;
•Mac Dunadhaigh, identified with a fort or Dun this is the surname of an old Galway family; and
•O’Maoldomhnaigh from a church or Sunday, this name is anglacised to Moloney (sometimes Muldowney) and is the name of a Dalcassian family who were chiefs of the Barony of Tully, County Clare and the name is still common in Munster.
In Northern Ireland (Ulster):
•Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" which is an Ulster name and is anglacised to MacGildowney, Gildowney, Mcildowney, McEldowney, McDowney and Downey. The Scottish form of the same surname is spelt Mac Gille Domhnaich.
Patronymics
•The first name such as Maol Domhnaich, or Muldonich meaning the "Lord's Devotee" have been used in Scotland and may have been the precursors to the Mac variations.
Surname DNA testing is the newest tool available to genealogists!
•Surname tests allow genealogists to verify their father's father's...father's paternal ancestry.
•Surname DNA information can be very powerful when combined with traditional paper trails.
The Downey/Downs/Downie/Dowie DNA Project DNA Project is open to all the DNA Project families, of all spelling variations, and from all locations. (If your surname is not included please contact the Project Administrator.)
Participating in a Surname DNA Project provides:
•The participant's genetic DNA, which is very close (and sometimes identical) to his earliest known ancestor.
•The participant's "deep" ancestry (Haplogroup), which identifies the paternal ancestor's prehistoric origins.
•A sense of camaraderie, which is particularly strong for those who share a genetic ancestry.
•Stimulation to family research and renewed sharing of information.
•A wider sense of identity and relationship, as we begin to realize how much we are a World Family.
•A chance to compare your genetic ancestry with those of your Surname and the spelling variations.
•Your genetic matches who do not share your common surname.
•The knowledge to understand our ancestors better - particularly where the records have been lost.
Further Project Website
For more information, forums and Downey/Downie family history please see the details at: worldfamilies.net/surnames/downey/
For further information on the Downie surname in Northern Ireland and Western Scotland: http://downiesurname.yolasite.com/
Surname Background
The following sources are good are not exhaustive of the origins of the Downey/Downie surname and include:
In Scotland
•Geographical, there are Dounie/Doune/Downie place names or hill forts or Dun in most parishes in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Angus, Stirling, Perth, Inverness and Isle of Lewis;
•Geographical, from the Barony of Downie in Angus; and
•As a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Gille/Maol Domhnaich "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" or McAldonich which both are anglacised to Macgildownie, Mcildownie and Gildownie (and many variations) to Downie, mainly in the parishes of Argyll, western Perth and Inverness.
In Ireland
•O’Dunadhaigh is a person identified with a fort or Dun. This surname is found mostly in County Galway, South west Cork and Leinster. The surname is Anglacised to Downey;
•Mac Dunadhaigh, identified with a fort or Dun this is the surname of an old Galway family; and
•O’Maoldomhnaigh from a church or Sunday, this name is anglacised to Moloney (sometimes Muldowney) and is the name of a Dalcassian family who were chiefs of the Barony of Tully, County Clare and the name is still common in Munster.
In Northern Ireland (Ulster):
•Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" which is an Ulster name and is anglacised to MacGildowney, Gildowney, Mcildowney, McEldowney, McDowney and Downey. The Scottish form of the same surname is spelt Mac Gille Domhnaich.
Patronymics
•The first name such as Maol Domhnaich, or Muldonich meaning the "Lord's Devotee" have been used in Scotland and may have been the precursors to the Mac variations.