Great Grandparents Family (Ryan)

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Introduction

This website has been put together to locate relatives we have worldwide. It may also be of help to others trying to find information on their own relatives of the Dobbyn family. Mr Matthew Dobbyn of Tokoroa, New Zealand was born in O'Briensbridge, Co. Clare Ireland but was raised in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Ireland. Feel free to email us if you may be related or have any information which may be of interest.

Brief History

Although some of the earliest references to the name in Ireland (i.e.) those in the 13th century find it in Cork and Limerick - it became firmly established in Co. Kilkenny during the 14th century as the Patent and Chancery Rolls, Ormond deeds and other such records attack. Dobbyn of Dobbynswood Co.Kilkenny, was prominent among the leading Gentry of the County in 1537 and 1598. The Census of 1659 found Dobbyn a principle in the Barony of Gowran Co. Kilkenny. Nicholas Dobbyn of Ballymaney Co. Kilkenny was transplanted to Connaught as a Papist in 1657 (by Cromwell). From Kilkenny they spread to the nearby city of Waterford. Two of them were Mayors (1460 and 1598) and their prosperity can be measured by the fact that all eight Dobbyns whose wills were proved in the preogative court between 1663 and 1808 were of Waterford. This statement raised the question of the spelling of the name. Eight Dobbins wills also passed through the preogative court from 1788 - 1795 and none of these were of Waterford - 5 being of Ulster. If we consider the distribution of the name in modern times we find that 75% belong to Antrim or adjoining Counties. All Dobbins and only a small number of Dobbyns are still to be found in Waterford and Kilkenny. The Dobbins of Antrim first appear as Constable of Carrigfergus Castle in 1406. Seventeen of them were Sherrifs and eight Mayors of Carrigfergus between 1571 - 1666, in almost all cases the name spelt Dobbin are Protestants and those spelt Dobbyn are Catholic.

The Dobbyns or De'Aubin were Normans who were at the invasion of England in 1066. In 1177 the arrived in Ireland at the invasion of that country and eventually became "more Irish than the Irish themselves". The motto of their Norman coat of arms is "Non Nobis Domine". They appear to have been Knight Templers, as the coat of arms includes knights in armour, and the cross.

Their Irish crest bears 3 harps on the shield and a Lion and Cross. The motto is "Re e Merito"

Now to come to your own family - your great great grandfather was a millwright in Co Kildare. His were definitely a very musical family. One of his daughters - Sr Pancratius Dobbyn, a member of the Dominican Order was known as the Genny Lind of America. She died in 1930. All except your great grandfather emigrated to America and Australia. he immigrated to England in 1900 where he died in 1940. My great grandmother died 10 years later 1950 in England also.

"Extract written by John Dobbyn 1977 for his grand daughter Bernadette Dobbyn, daughter of Matty and Vada Dobbyn of Tokoroa New Zealand"