Downes

Downes

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The Shield is: Argent three palets wavy gules a mullet for diff.
The Crest is: A wolf's head argent charged with a mullet.
The Motto is: "Perle Bien Ou Parle Rien", 'Speak Well Or Say Nothing'.
Variant spelling of Downes: Downs.
From the Gaelic word: "O'Dubhain".

The Downs or Downes surname is said to have been taken from O'Dubhain in counties Clare and Limerick. The most common spelling according to the 1890 index was 'Downes', which was given in Clare, Limerick, and Dublin at that time. Milesian Families gives the name as an English one, settling in Limerick and Tipperary in 1172.

Source: The Book of Irish Families Great & Small
Michael C. O'Laughin
1997 Irish Genealogical Foundation

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