| The Dobunni Tribe of the North Somerset | | | | literally, either (The) 'DARK-HAIRED (0NES) |
| Gloucester region were originally of Iberian | | | | ESTABLISHED (THIS PLACE) or perhaps just |
| descent, coming from the Bell Beaker people of | | | | (The) 'DARK-HAIRED PEOPLE'. |
| Spain and Portugal. They are also have known to | | | | Such a tribe would have stood out against the |
| have travelled to Brittany, where a tribe known | | | | fair-haired Celts who came along later. Indeed, one |
| as the Coriosolites existed. | | | | only has to look at the dark-haired Spanish and |
| It is my belief that some of this tribe may have | | | | Portuguese, together with many of the Irish and |
| sailed to the coastline of Somerset, thereby | | | | long term residents of Somerset who still retain |
| beginning the Dobunni. Indeed, the Dobunni are | | | | the dark hair of the Dobunni to see the |
| understood to have traded with the Coriosolites | | | | connection. |
| of Ancient Amorica (Brittany), and the fact that | | | | Meanwhile, the Iberian connection to the Dobunni |
| the name of 'Corio' appears on some of the early | | | | is further supported by the Beaker pottery |
| Dobunnic coinage may be more than a mere | | | | sherds and vessels unearthed, and in the style of |
| coincidence. I should like to suggest that this is in | | | | their Hill-forts that they left behind, in particularly |
| fact stating the origins of the tribe itself. It may | | | | those at Worlebury and Dolebury which used |
| well be that the chief of that time did perhaps | | | | stone in construction of the ramparts. Similar |
| take the name of Corio from the name of their | | | | types of Hill-forts that used stone for their |
| forefathers as a mark of respect, or as a way of | | | | defences can be found in Spain and Portugal, and |
| remembering their ancestors. | | | | with some of likewise construction also to be |
| While this group of Iberians had landed in Brittany | | | | found in Ireland. |
| and Somerset, further groups set sail towards | | | | Further to the meaning of the Dobunni name, I |
| Ireland and other parts of Southern England and | | | | believe it is quite possible that the language of the |
| Europe. | | | | Dobunni may well have been closer to the Irish |
| This brings us to the tribal name of 'Dobunni', the | | | | Gaelic than to the Brythonic Welsh supposedly |
| meaning of which has never been explained. The | | | | spoken by the Celtic/British Tribes. No doubt an |
| spelling of the name 'Dobunni' can no doubt be | | | | amalgamation of these languages could have |
| attributed to the Roman Latinisation as to the | | | | occurred over the centuries. The original Gaulish |
| pronunciation of the word. Now, if one was to | | | | spoken on the continent became extinct during |
| sound each syllable out separately, then convert | | | | the onset of Christianity and the eventual |
| the same sound into the Irish Gaelic spelling, we | | | | changeover to Latin. |
| get the following; | | | | With the arrival of the Celtic Tribes, there were |
| 'DUBH' pronounced "Doo" which means, dark or | | | | bound to have been a few inter-tribal marriages |
| black-haired. | | | | between the Dobunni and the Celts once peace |
| 'BUNAITHE' "Boo-Nee" = established OR | | | | was established, or perhaps as a means of |
| 'BUNAICH' "Boo-Nee" = establish, found, set (up), | | | | establishing peace between one or more of the |
| start OR POSSIBLY, | | | | Belgic groups. However, I believe that the Dobunni |
| 'BUNADH' "Boo-Na" = people, inhabitants AND | | | | remained, essentially, "THE DARK-HAIRED |
| 'BUNAIOCH' "Boo-Na" = primitive | | | | PEOPLE". |
| Putting this simply, the name 'Dobunni' means | | | | |