O'Donoghue explained

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, Dunnahoo 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 currently acting at Once Upon A Time
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

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 Glens^[1]
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
Gary O'Donoghue, British journalist

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.

External links

The O'Donoghue Society

Notes and References

http://www.odonoghue.co.uk/guests/society/paul.php profile