Dillon (surname) explained
Dillon is an Irish surname of Breton origin, descending from a cadet branch of Viscomte de Leon in Northern Brittany. It first appeared in Ireland with the arrival of Sir Henry de Leon, in the service of Prince John in 1185. Sir Henry married Maud de Courcy, daughter of Sir John de Courcy and Affrica Guðrøðardóttir. Awarded large tracts of land by in Meath and Westmeath, one of the Dillons’ first Mott & Baileys can still be found at Dunnamona before the establishment of stone structures such as Portlick Castle.
The name evolved into the Irish-language "Diolun"/English-language "Dillon" (not to be confused with the Welsh given name Dylan). It is particularly common in the Meath and Westmeath counties of Ireland where the Dillons were granted vast areas of land. The name is widespread throughout Ireland. The Dillon family later became the Barons Clonbrock and Earls of Roscommon. The family in Ireland was honoured with six compositions (music & poetry) composed by Turlough Carolan: Tiarna Duilleain – Lord Dillon; Róis Duilleain – Lady Rose Dillon jig; Gearalt Duilleain – Gerald Dillon; Fainní Duilleain – Fanny Dillon; Comhairleoir Duilleain – Coun. Dillon; Lúcás Ó Duilleain – Luke Dillon..
Notable people with the surname "Dillon" include
A
- A. J. Dillon (born 1998), American football player
- Alan Dillon (born 1982), Irish politician
- Alfred Dillon (1841–1915), New Zealand politician
- Andrew Dillon (born 1954), English health executive
- Andrew Dillon (sports administrator), Australian sports administrator
- Andy Dillon (born 1962), American politician
- Ann Turner Dillon, American political figure
- Antron Dillon (born 1985), American football player
- Arthur Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Artie Dillon (1894–1948), Australian rules footballer
- Asia Kate Dillon (born 1984), American actor
- Austin Dillon (born 1990), American race car driver
B
- Barbara Dillon, American author
- Bartholomew Dillon (??–1533), Irish judge
- Bernard Dillon (1888–1941), Irish jockey
- Bethany Dillon (born 1988), American musician
- Bill Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bobby Dillon (1930–2019), American football player
- Brandon Dillon (born 1972), American politician
- Brandon Dillon (American football) (born 1997), American football player
- Brenden Dillon (born 1990), Canadian ice hockey player
- Brian Dillon (1830–1872), Irish activist
- Brian Dillon (judge) (1925–2003), British lawyer
C
- Cara Dillon (born 1975), Northern Irish folk singer
- Carey Dillon (1627–1689), Irish nobleman
- Carmen Dillon (1908–2000), English art director
- Cass Dillon (born 1986), American singer-songwriter
- C. Douglas Dillon (1909–2003), American politician
- Cecil Dillon (1908–1969), Canadian-American ice hockey player
- Cecily Dillon (1603–1653), Irish nun
- Charles Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chester C. Dillon (1887–1971), American football player and coach
- Chris Dillon (born 1965), American attorney
- Christopher M Dillon (born 1971), American football player, and horse trainer
- Christopher P. Dillon (born 1980), American workplace safety advocate
- Cian Dillon (born 1988), Irish hurler
- Clarence Dillon (1882–1979), American businessman
- Constantine Dillon (1813–1853), English army officer
- Corey Dillon (born 1974), American football player
- Costa Dillon (born 1953), American writer and actor
D
- Danica Dillon, American pornographic actress
- Daniel Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- David Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dean Dillon (born 1955), American musician
- Denis E. Dillon (1933–2010), American politician
- Denise Dillon (born 1973), American basketball player and coach
- Dennis Anthony Dillon (born 1959), American minister
- Denny Dillon (born 1951), American actress
- Derrick Dillon (born 1995), American football player
- Des Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Doug Dillon (1924–1999), New Zealand lawyer
E
- Éamonn Dillon (born 1992), Irish hurler
- Edmund Dillon (born 1955), Trinidadian military officer
- Edward Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Eilís Dillon (1920–1994), Irish author
- E. J. Dillon (1854–1933), Irish author
- Eleanor Dillon (1601–1629), Irish nun
- Elizabeth Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Emer Dillon (born 1984), Irish camogie player
- Enrica Clay Dillon (1885–1946), American opera singer
- Eoin Dillon (born 1987), Irish hurler
- Eric Dillon (1881–1946), Irish soldier
F
G
- Gareth Dillon, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Garrett Dillon (1640–1696), Irish politician
- Gary Dillon (born 1959), Canadian ice hockey player
- Gary P. Dillon (born 1943), American politician
- George Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Geraldine Dillon (1936–2020), Australian chef
- Geraldine Plunkett Dillon (1891–1986), Irish activist
- Gerard Dillon (1916–1971), Irish artist
- Gerard B. Dillon (born 1962), Irish politician
- Glyn Dillon (born 1971), British costume designer
- Griffin Dillon (born 2003), American soccer player
- Gus Dillon (1881–1952), Canadian lacrosse player
H
J
- Jack Dillon (1891–1942), American boxer
- Jake Dillon (born 1993), Irish hurler
- James Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jane Dillon, British designer
- Jen O'Malley Dillon (born 1976), American political strategist
- Jerome Dillon (born 1969), American musician
- Jessica Dillon (born 1995), Australian footballer
- Jimmy Dillon (born 1978/1979), American politician
- J. J. Dillon (born 1942), American professional wrestler
- Joan Dillon (born 1935), American-French royal
- Joan Dillon (historic preservation activist) (1925–2008), American activist
- Joe Dillon (born 1975), American baseball player,
- Joe Dillon (born 1985), Mayo U21 All Ireland medalist
- Joey Dillon (born 1992), American soccer player
- Joey Rocketshoes Dillon, American historian
- John Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph E. Dillon (1921–1990), American politician
- Josephine Dillon (1884–1971), American actress
- Julia Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Julie Dillon (born 1982), American illustrator
K
L
M
- Marshall Dillon (cricketer) (1925–1979), Australian cricketer
- Martin Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Matt Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Matthew Dillon (born 1966), American software engineer
- Melinda Dillon (1939–2023), American actress
- Merton L. Dillon (1924–2003), American historian and author
- Mervyn Dillon (born 1974), West Indian cricketer
- Mia Dillon (born 1955), American actress
- Michelle Dillon (born 1973), British triathlete
- Michael Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Millicent Dillon (born 1925), American writer
- Myles Dillon (1900–1972), Irish historian
N
O
P
R
S
- Sandy Dillon, American singer-songwriter
- Sarinder Singh Dillon (born 1946), Hong Kong field hockey player
- Scott Dillon (1928–2018), Australian surfer
- Sean Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Shaun Dillon (born 1984), Scottish footballer
- Sheila Dillon, British journalist
- Sheri Dillon, American attorney
- Sidney Dillon (1812–1892), American railroad executive
- Siobhan Dillon (born 1984), English actress
- Steven Dillon (disambiguation), multiple people
- Susie Dillon, Canadian politician
T
U
V
W
See also
References
