Downie or Downey is a surname. There appears to be a number of sources of the Downie/Downey surname in Scotland and Ireland, with the intermittent mix in Ulster. The spelling of the surname as Downie is almost unique to Scotland with minor instances in Northern Ireland (Antrim). The following information on the origins of the name are taken from.[1]
In Scotland
editThere are Dounie/Doune/Downie place names or hill forts or Dun in most parishes in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Angus, Stirling, Perth, Inverness and the Isle of Lewis. The name may derive from any of these, or from the Barony of Downie in Angus.
It is also a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Gille/Maol Domhnaich or McAldonich "son of the servant of the Lord (Sunday)" which both are anglicised to Macgildownie, Mcildownie and Gildownie (and many variations) to Downie, mainly in the parishes of Argyll, western Perth and Inverness.
In Ireland
editO’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 often anglicised to Downey. Mac Dunadhaigh, identified with a fort or Dun, is the surname of an old Galway family.
Patronymics
editThe 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.
Notable people
editNotable people with the surname Downie include:
- Alex Downie, member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man
- Allan Watt Downie (1901–1988), Scottish microbiologist
- Becky Downie (or Rebecca Downie), British gymnast European and world medalist
- Ellie Downie, British gymnast world and European medalist
- David Downie, American author
- David L. Downie, American scholar
- Dorothy G. Downie (1894–1960), British botanist
- Freda Downie (1929-1993), English poet
- Gary Downie, production manager
- Gord Downie (1964–2017), Canadian rock musician
- Jack Downie, Scottish footballer
- James Downie (footballer), 19th century footballer
- James Downie (cyclist), New Zealand racing cyclist
- Johnny Downie, Scottish footballer
- John Wallace Downie, Scottish businessman and politician
- Kenneth Downie, Scottish composer
- Leonard Downie Jr., American journalist
- Penny Downie, Australian actress
- Nick Downie, soldier and war correspondent
- Robert Downie, Scottish soldier
- Robert Downie (footballer), Scottish football goalkeeper
- Steve Downie, Canadian ice hockey player
- Tim Downie, British actor and writer
- Tyrone Downie, member of Bob Marley and The Wailers
Places
edit- Downie Hills, Scotland
- Downiehills, Scotland
- Downie Peak, British Columbia
- Downie Point, Scotland
- Downie River, California
- Downie's Loup, a Scottish waterfall
Other
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Downie Surname". Archived from the original on 2013-04-21. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
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