This is a very interesting surname. The one almost certain thing about it, is that it is not Irish, and is not even recorded in the city of Dublin! We believe that it is English, but possibly of French origin and a derivative of 'de Boulogne.' This in English is generally rendered as Bollen, Bullen, or Boleyn, although there are many known forms. An alternative to this would be as a development of Doblin, and this is suggested by the famous International Genealogical Index, which lists Doblin and Dublin together. If so then both are developments of the medieval surname Dobbin, meaning 'Little Dobb or Son of Dobb. The 12th century nickname Dobb or Dobbs, is originally from the pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon personal name Rob or Robert. The first recording as Dobbe is in Yorkshire as early as the year 1219, with that of 'Dobbe of Denaby'. However it is several centuries later before we are able to find a Dublin entry, with the recording of Mary Dublen or Dublin, who married Dutchman Paul van der Steene, at the church of St Andrew's by the Wardrobe, in the city of London, on July 31st 1623. At much the sametime we have the recording of Peter Dubollin as spelt, who married Anne Stiles at the church of St Gregory's by St Pauls cathedral, on July 30th 1632, whilst on January 7th 1714, William Dublin and his wife Elizabeth, were christening witnesses at at St Mary Whitechapel, Stepney.

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