Dillon Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Dillon Family History

Dillon Family History

The Dillon ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'faithful one', the name Dillon is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. An example of such are records of a place called Dilun which was recorded in England in 1138. This name was introduced to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion. The Dillons were powerful and influential in the twelfth century, their main territory being Westmeath where an area is known as 'Dillon's Country'. Some of the family migrated to France where they became proprietors of Dillons Regiment. They were created Counts in 1711 and their descendants are still to be found in France and in County Sligo. The present Lord Dillon is nineteenth Viscount of Costello-Gallen.The Dillon family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Dillon descendants.