English
The surname 'Dolan' originates from Ireland. It is derived from the Anglicised Gaelic form 'O'Dubhshlain' meaning 'descendant od Dubhshlan', a personal name composed of the elements 'dubh' meaning 'dark', 'black' and 'slan' meaning 'chalenge', 'defiance'. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive's has confirmed that the surname 'Dolan' and or it's variant's, dates as far back as the fourteenth century were a 'Willelmus Dowland', from the county of Yorkshire, England, is recorded on Poll Tax records in thirteen hundred and seventy-nine. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain 'William Dolan', aged 24, a peruke maker by trade, from the city of Dublin, Ireland. He emigrated to North America in 1774, sailing from the Port of London aboard the ship named the 'Carolina' on the twelth of December 1774, arriving in Virginia on the nineteenth of December of the same, where he served as an indentured servant. Today, 'Dolan' is the 'Nine Hundred and thirty-sixth' most common surname in North America.