1662 - History of the Dowling Coat of Arms
This is the only arms registered with the Chief Herald in Dublin in the name of Dowling. They are shown in Burkes' General Armory as having been granted to
Mortagh Dowling of Kilkenny,
by Ulster King of Arms, on 5th August 1662
Source: Office of the Chief Herald, 2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. (from M. Doolan, 25 Feb 2000)
Heraldic Description of Coat of Dowling Arms
- Argent a holly tree eradicated proper on a chief azure, a lion passant between two slipped trefoils slipt or.
- Crest: A lion’s head erased azure collared gemelles or.
Translation of Heraldic Description
Arms:
Silver shield with a holly tree showing its roots in its natural colours. Then on a blue top third of the shield (note: this is part of the design rather than a denotation of the joining of families), a lion facing left with foreleg raised between two leaves with three petals showing stalks in gold.
Crest:
A blue lion’s head torn raggedly with two gold rings around neck.
Pictures of Coat of Arms
O'Connor O'Toole MacMorough 1 MacMorough 2 Dowling Click on Thumbnail for large version and wait...
Family Motto Fortis et Egregius
From the Latin meaning
Strong and Distinguished
Fortis adjective strong, sturdy, brave, manly, resolute et conjunction and Egregius adjective outstanding, surpassing, distinguished, illustrious Collins Latin Dictionary Pub. Harper Collins 1999 - (ISBN 0-00-472092-X)
Irish Heraldry - Using the Coat of Arms Unlike the English system of heraldry where the coat of arms can be carried only by the direct descendant the Irish system allows that all bearers of the name Dowling can use these arms. Whilst this does not apply to all Irish coats of arms it is common to many.
More on Heraldry can be found here
http://www.irish-times.com/ancestor/magazine/tradition.html
