Surname O'Devine - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O'Devine: What does the surname O'Devine mean?
The surname O'Devine is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Duibín. The Irish name is an anglicization of the Gaelic Ó Dubhain, meaning "descendant of Dubhan".
The personal name Dubhan was originally derived from the Irish dubh, meaning “dark”. This name was used for those with dark features such as dark eyes, hair and skin. It could also be derived from dubh, meaning “evil” or “devil”. In older records, some members of the clan may have adopted the Gaelic spelling of this name, Ó Dubhghaill, which simply meant “descendant of the servant of the dark one".
The O'Devine sept was located in County Donegal in the northwestern corner of Ireland. They were lords there from about the 10th century until the 16th century, when the English and Welsh completed the Plantation of Ulster in 1610. This spelled the end of their clan chiefs and of their control over the area.
Today, the surname O'Devine is still common in the areas of Donegal, Tyrone and Derry. It is also common outside Ireland, especially in countries with large Irish populations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Devine: Where does the name O'Devine come from?
The last name O'Devine is a well-known Irish surname, particularly in Ireland. The surname is most common in the south of Ireland, particularly in counties Cork and Kerry. O'Devine is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name O Duibhín, which translates into English as "descendant of Dubhín", or "Devine".
Devine is a very old name and has a long association with the Irish people. The earliest documented record of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, which state that the great tenth century kings Dubhín and Congalach of Uí Dubeirg were sons of Devine, the "progenitor of the Sept of the same name". As such, it was their descendants who became known as O'Duibhín or O'Devine.
By the 19th century, many members of the O'Devine sept had migrated to England, Scotland, and North America. Today, O'Devines can still be found in their ancestral homelands of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The name is also very common in Australia, where many Irish immigrants settled in the 19th century in pursuit of better economic opportunities. O'Devines can also be found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname O'Devine
The surname O'Devine is an anglicised form of the Gaelic surname O'Duibhín, which is derived from the first name Duibhín (meaning "tiny dark one"). Variations of the surname O'Devine include O'Devin, Devin, Devine, Devan, Duvane, Dewan, Deavine, Deevine, and MacDevin. It is also common for other surnames to be derived from O'Devine, including Davies, MacDavies, McDavitt, O'Garvey, O'Byrne, O'Connolly, and O'Connell.
In Ireland, the surname O'Devine is chiefly found in the Province of Munster, in the provinces of County Cork and Kerry. The population of those bearing the surname from that region is relatively small.
The surname O'Devine is more common in Scotland, where it is found mainly in the midlands, stretching from Galloway to the Isle of Skye, and on the Western Isles of Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides. It may also be found simply as Devine, or more commonly as Deveen or Davin.
In the United States, the surname O'Devine tends to be more common in large cities.
The most common spelling of the surname in the United States is Devine. It is also found in the abbreviated form Dev, in which some families have retained the apostrophe, but many have dropped it.
In the United Kingdom, the surname O'Devine is found mainly in England, especially around the areas of Lancashire in the North West, West Yorkshire in the North East, and Devon in the West Country. It is also found in more substantial numbers in Ireland, Scotland, and in the United States.
Famous people with the name O'Devine
- Conor O'Devine: Irish cricketer who has represented Ireland in the Under-19 World Cup in 2014
- Paul O'Devine: former professional American football defensive lineman
- Eric O'Devine: Canadian motion capture and voice actor
- Marc O'Devine: professional footballer from Northern Ireland
- Maureen O'Devine: Irish actress and singer
- Finbarr O'Devine: former Irish footballer and coach
- Caoimhe O'Devine: Irish author and journalist
- Keith O'Devine: American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer
- Paddy O'Devine: Irish Gaelic football manager
- Eoin O'Devine: Irish cricketer who has represented Ireland in both Under-19 and senior levels