Downey is an

Irish surname A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, surnames are generally patronymic in etymology but are no longer literal patronyms as, for example, most Icelandic names still are. The form of a surname varies ...

that means in English “belonging to a fort”. The name is found from ancient times in areas of Ireland's modern County Galway, southwest Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Ulster and Leinster and is believed to be the surname of three distinct families. In Ulster, Downey (I. Ó Duibheanaigh) were the chiefs of the

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh ( Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and i ...

petty-kingdom of Cinel Amhalgaidh, now known in the Anglicised form as

Clanawley Clanawley () is a barony in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. To its east lies Upper Lough Erne, and it is bordered by three other baronies: Magheraboy to the north; Tirkennedy and Knockninny to the east. It also borders three baronies in th ...

in County Down,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

Notable people

* Aaron Downey (born 1974), NHL forward * Alexander Downey (1817–1898), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court *

Brian Downey (drummer) Brian Michael Downey (born 27 January 1951) is an Irish drummer. He was a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy and the only other constant in the band aside from leader Phil Lynott until their disbandment in 1983. Downey also co-wrote s ...

(born 1951), Irish drummer *

Brian Downey (actor) Brian Downey (born 31 October 1944 in St. John's, Newfoundland) is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Stanley Tweedle in the science-fiction television series ''Lexx''. Career Downey is a character actor who has appeared in var ...

(born 1944), Canadian actor *

Bruce Downey Bruce Downey is the former chairman and CEO of Barr Pharmaceuticals (bought by Teva Pharmaceuticals) and in 2009 became a partner at New Spring Capital, a venture capital firm. Career Downey began his career in the Honors Program of the U.S. ...

, CEO of Barr Pharmaceuticals * Edmund Downey (1856–1937), Irish journalist and novelist *

Glen Downey (writer) Glen Downey (born October 15, 1969) is a Canadian children's author, teacher, and academic from Oakville, Ontario. His publications include more than ninety books for young people across a variety of genres that focus specifically on the developme ...

, Canadian children's author * James Downey (academic) * James Downey (Internet performance artist) *

James Erwin Downey James Erwin Downey (born August 10, 1942) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative governments of Sterling L ...

(born 1942), Canadian politician *

Jim Downey (comedian) James Woodward Downey (born ) is an American comedy writer and occasional actor. Downey wrote for over 30 seasons of ''Saturday Night Live'', making him the longest tenured writer in the show's history. ''SNL'' creator Lorne Michaels called Down ...

* John G. Downey (1827–1894), Californian patriot *

John T. Downey John Thomas Downey or Jack Downey (April 19, 1930 – November 17, 2014) was an American judge and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. As a CIA operative, he was shot down over China during the Korean War and was held prisoner for ov ...

, CIA agent and P.O.W. *

Juan Downey Juan Downey (May 11, 1940 – June 9, 1993) was a Chilean artist who was a pioneer in the fields of video art and interactive art. Early life and education Downey was born in Santiago, Chile. His father, David Downey V., was a distinguished ar ...

(1940–1993), Chilean video artist *

June Downey June Etta Downey (July 13, 1875 – October 11, 1932) was an American psychologist who studied personality and handwriting. Downey was born and raised in Laramie, Wyoming, where she received her degree in Greek and Latin from the University of Wy ...

(1875–1932), American psychologist *

Keith Downey (agricultural scientist) Richard Keith Downey, (born January 26, 1927) is a Canadian agricultural scientist and, as one of the originators of canola, became known as the "Father of Canola". Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, In 1951 he received a B.S.A. and in 1952 an M.S ...

, Canadian agricultural scientist * Keith Downey (politician), Minnesota politician *

Marg Downey Marg Downey (born 5 May 1961) is an Australian comedian and actress best known for her roles in '' The D Generation'', ''Fast Forward'' and '' Full Frontal'' Early life and education Downey grew up in a middle-class Catholic family in the Melb ...

(born 1961), Australian comedian * Margaret Downey, American atheist activist *

Morton Downey Sean Morton Downey (November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985), also known as Morton Downey Sr., was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1 ...

(1901–1985), American singer nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale" * Morton Downey Jr. (1932–2001), American singer, songwriter and television talk show host of ''

The Morton Downey Jr. Show ''The Morton Downey Jr. Show'' is a syndicated American talk show presented by Morton Downey Jr. that ran from 1987 to 1989. The show and its host pioneered the concept of "trash TV" format. Starting as a local program on New York-New Jersey su ...

'' * Patrick Downey (disambiguation), multiple people *

Robert Downey (hurler) Robert Downey (born 1999) is an Irish hurler who plays as a full- back and half back for club side Glen Rovers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a left wing-back. Playing career Christian Bro ...

(born 1999) * Robert Downey Sr. (1936–2021), originally Robert Elias Jr., actor, writer and film director *

Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...

(born 1965), American actor * Rod Downey, author *

Roma Downey Roma Burnett (née Downey) is an actress, producer, and author from Derry, Northern Ireland. She produced the mini-series ''The Bible'' for the History Channel and also appeared in it as Mary, mother of Jesus. For nine seasons she played Moni ...

(born 1960), Irish actress and producer * Shannon Downey, American crafter and activist * Shem Downey (1922–2013), Irish hurler *

Sheridan Downey Sheridan Downey (March 11, 1884 – October 25, 1961) was an American lawyer and a Democratic U.S. Senator from California from 1939 to 1950. Early life He was born in Laramie, the seat of Albany County in western Wyoming, the son of the ...

(1884–1961), lawyer and Democratic U.S. Senator from California * W. & D. Downey (William and Daniel), photographers

U.S. Navy and Army

The source for all material in this section is the Gannet ''Military Times'' Hall of Valor website.

Medal of Honor

William Downey (U.S. Civil War hero), a

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

cavalryman, was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for braving heavy fire from a

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

artillery battery as a volunteer member of a boat crew on the Ashepoo River, South Carolina to rescue crewmen on the stranded

Union (American Civil War) During the American Civil War, the Union, also known as the North, referred to the United States led by President Abraham Lincoln. It was opposed by the secessionist Confederate States of America (CSA), informally called "the Confederacy" or "t ...

steamer ''Boston''.

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
recipients

Ernest Willard Downey for heroism in combat against the enemy in directing and operating anti-aircraft fire from his vessel while exposed to frequent horizontal Imperial Japanese aerial attacks and dive bombings, during the period of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

from 7 December 1941 to 25 February 1942 and while on board the U.S.S. VAGA (YT-116)

Soldier's Medal The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926., Appendix 5, p. 126. The Army' Soldier's Medal is equiv ...
recipients

Arlie L. Downey, on 10 July 1926 upon learning that an injured woman was lying exposed in the road near a point where the two heaviest explosions of the explosions at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot (aka Lake Denmark Powder Depot) near

Dover, New Jersey Dover is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. Located on the Rockaway River, Dover is about west of New York City and about west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,157,

, had already occurred and accompanied by two other men, proceeded toward that point and rescued the woman through the continuous roar of exploding magazines and when the air was filled with flying shells, stones, and fragments of buildings, and shortly before a third heavy explosion of the facility's munitions occurred.

Distinguished Service Cross (United States) recipients

Ernest L. Downey, during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

near the Bois-de-Montrebeau, France, 28 September 1918, while severely wounded refused to go to the rear, but continued in the advance until the final objective was reached and his company relieved

Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts ...
recipients

*Joseph Downey, U.S. Marine Corps,

Pacific Theater of World War II The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the Theater (warfare), theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, ...

*John E. Downey, U.S. Marine Corps, Pacific Theater of World War II *Thomas A. Muldowney, U.S. Marine Corps, Pacific Theater of World War II *Lawrence E. Downey, U.S. Army Air Forces,

European theater of World War II The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main theatres of combat during World War II. It saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and ending with the ...

Durbin H. Downey, U.S. Army Air Forces, World War II, Korean conflict, Cold War

References

{{surname, Downey Anglicised Irish-language surnames Irish royal families Surnames of Irish origin