Donoghue or O'Donoghue is an anglicised form of the Irish language surname Ó Donnchadha or Ó Donnchú.
Etymology The name means "descendant of Donnchadh", a personal name composed of the elements donn "brown-haired [man]" and cath "battle". Spelling variations (which include an initial "Ó" or omit it) include Donoghue, Donaghue, Donaghoe, Donoughe, Donaho, Donahoe, Donough, Donahue, Donahow, Doneghoe, Donehue, Donighue, Donihue, Donoho, Donohoe, Donahugh, Donohough, Donohow, Donohue, Donaughue, Donaghie, Donaghy, Doughue, Dougue, Donihoo, Dunahoo and many more. Some of these variations exist also in Northern Ireland and Scotland with the same meaning in Scottish Gaelic as in Irish.
Septs in Ireland There are several completely different O'Donoghue families in Ireland. (1) The Ó Donnchadha of Cashel, from the Eóganacht Chaisil, related to the O'Sullivans, MacCarthys and O'Callaghans. They descend from Donnchad mac Cellacháin, King of Munster. (2) The Ó Donnchadha of Desmond, from the Eóganacht Raithlind, related to the O'Mahonys, prominent in County Kerry and referred to as "O'Donoghue Mór." They descend from Donnchadh mac Domhnall. (3) The Ó Donnchadha of Osraige, from the Clann Conla, related to the Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty ("the Fitzpatricks") and produced some kings of Osraige, prominent in County Kilkenny and commonly anglicised as Dunphy. They descend from Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic. (4) The Ó Donnchadha of Uí Maine, from the Uí Maine, related to the O'Kellys, prominent in County Galway and County Roscommon.
People with the surname O'Donoghue Arts, media, and entertainment Ben O'Donoghue, Australian celebrity chef Bernard O'Donoghue, Irish poet and academic Colin O'Donoghue, Irish actor Danny O'Donoghue, lead singer of the Irish band "The Script" David James O'Donoghue, journalist and author Gary O'Donoghue, BBC journalist Michael O'Donoghue, Irish-American comedian, writer and occasional performer for Saturday Night Live Tighe O'DonoghueRoss, Irish-American painter, printmaker, and sculptor
Sport Brian O'Donoghue, former GAA goalkeeper Ed O'Donoghue, Irish rugby union player John E. O'Donoghue, Major League Baseball pitcher John P. O'Donoghue, Major League Baseball pitcher Neil O'Donoghue, former NFL kicker Peter O'Donoghue (athlete) (born 1971), New Zealand distance runner
Politicians and activists Daniel O'Donoghue, Irish politician Daniel John O'Donoghue, Ontario labour leader and political figure John O'Donoghue (politician), Irish Fianna Fáil politician, former cabinet minister and former Ceann Comhairle Juan O'Donojú, Spanish military officer and last viceroy of New Spain Kevin O'Donoghue, the first Chief of Defence Materiel in the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Lowitja O'Donoghue, Aboriginal Australian nurse, public servant, and Indigenous rights advocate Martin O'Donoghue, Irish economist and Fianna Fáil politician Nan Joyce née O'Donoghue, Irish Travellers' right activist
Other people Charles Henry O'Donoghue, zoologist Florence O'Donoghue, Irish historian and intelligence specialist Geoffrey Paul Vincent O'Donoghue of the Glensprofile Kevin O'Donoghue, artist educator] at Clonkeen College Patrick O'Donoghue, Irish-born current bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, England Peter O'Donoghue (officer of arms) (born 1971), British genealogist
See also O'Donoghue of the Glens Clan Robertson, a Scottish clan anciently known as Clann Dhonnchaidh Donahoe Donoghue (disambiguation) Donohue Donohoe Donahue Donough Irish nobility O'Donohue Ross Castle
Other Munster families O'Mahony O'Donovan McGillycuddy of the Reeks and/or O'Sullivan Mor O'Callaghan O'Brien, Prince of Thomond O'Grady of Kilballyowen
References
Byrne, Francis J., Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001. Curley, Walter J.P., Vanishing Kingdoms: The Irish Chiefs and their Families. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2004. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins. Irish Academic Press. 4th edition, 1998.
Further reading
External links The O'Donoghue Society