Dillon surname history

In Ireland Dillon may be of Gaelic or Norman origin, the former from O Duilleain, possibly from dall, meaning "blind", the latter from de Leon, from the place of the same name in Brittany. This, of course, accounts for the lion in the family arms. The Norman family have been prominent in Ireland since the arrival of their ancestor Sir Henry de Leon in 1185. He was granted vast estates in counties Longford and Westmeath, and his descendants retained their power up to modern times, with Co. Westmeath becoming known simply as "Dillon's Country". Among the many titled members of the family were Baron Drumraney, the Earls of Roscommon, the Lords of Clonbrock in Galway, Viscount Dillon and the French Counts Dillon. Another branch of the family settled in Co. Mayo, where they are still well-known today. After the Williamite wars of the seventeenth century, many members of the family served in continental regiments, especially the army of France, a tradition which continued down to the nineteenth century. There are many Dillons in France today.

The surname is sometimes confused with Dillane, from the Irish O Duilleain, a north Kerry/Limerick name more usually anglicised as Delane.

.Eilis Dillon (b.1920) is a prolific novelist, playwright and author of children?s books.

Wentworth Dillon (1633-84), 4th Earl of Roscommon, spent most of his life in the literary salons of Restoration London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The best-known Irish regiment in the French army was "Dillon's Regiment", founded by Sir James Dillon, who had been a Member of Parliament for Wicklow from 1639 to 1642 and was forced to flee to France after the invasion of Cromwell. He died in 1669, a Field Marshal of France.

Many Dillons have been distinguished politicians, including John Talbot Dillon (1740-1805), M.P. for Wicklow, John Blake Dillon (1816-66), founder of the Nation newspaper and later M.P. for Tipperary, his son, also John Blake Dillon (1851-1927), M.P. in Parnell?s party and his grandson James Dillon (1902-86), twice Minister for Agriculture after independence.