Doney Family History

English (Cornwall): of uncertain origin. There is a Richard Donowe recorded in 1451-64 as a tenant in Manuels Saint Columb Minor whose surname appears to be a pet form of an unidentified personal name with the Cornish hypocoristic suffix -ow. Formally this might have become Doney but Donowe itself seems not to have survived unless it was altered to Downey.

However, there is no evidence to suggest any connection of this west Cornwall surname with Doney in central and east Cornwall (Bodmin and Quethiock). Alternatively, perhaps it is a variant of the Devon name Downey and with the main vowel shortened and lowered but evidence for this is lacking.

Americanized form of French Canadian Daunais or Donais.