Donlevy is a firstname and surname of

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

origin. Also spelt as MacDonlevy, Donleavy, Dunleavy, MacAleavey, and McAlevey, it derives from the

''Mac Duinnshléibhe'', meaning "son of

Donn In Irish mythology, Donn ("the dark one", from cel-x-proto, Dhuosnos) is an ancestor of the Gaels and is believed to have been a god of the dead. Donn is said to dwell in Tech Duinn (the "house of Donn" or "house of the dark one"), where the s ...

of the mountain". ''Ó Duinnshléibhe'' is a variant Irish spelling. Their

eponymous An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Usage of the word The term ''epon ...

ancestor is Donn Sléibe mac Echdacha, who ruled as king of the Irish petty-kingdom of

Dál Fiatach Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland during the Middle Ages. It was part of the over-kingdom of Ulaid, and they were its main ruling dynasty for most of Ulaid's ...

, as well as its over-kingdom,

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...

, in the late 10th century. In the aftermath of

John de Courcy {{Infobox noble , image = Sir John de Courcy (1150-1219).jpg , caption = , alt = , more = no , succession = , reign = , predecessor = , successor = , ...

's conquest of Ulaid in 1177, some of the dynasty migrated to present-day

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...

, whilst others went to Scotland. In Donegal they became the hereditary physicians (

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

: ''ollahm leighis'') of the

Cenél Conaill Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

Tír Conaill Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...

. After the

Battle of Kinsale The siege of Kinsale, or Battle of Kinsale ( ga, Léigear/Cath Chionn tSáile), was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland, commencing in October 1601, near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and at the climax of t ...

in 1602, the sept migrated to the province of

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

, where their name is now most common. Some MacDonlevys in Donegal adopted the surname ''Mac an Ultaigh'', meaning "son of the Ulsterman", which was anglicised as MacAnulty and

MacNulty McNulty (also spelled MacNulty or McAnulty) is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic ''Mac an Ultaigh'' meaning "son of the Ulsterman". Usually considered a branch of the Ulaid ruling dynasty of ''Mac Duinnshléibhe'' ( MacDo ...

Notable people

Donlevys

Andrew Donlevy Andrew Donlevy (born in 1694, probably in Sligo, Ireland; date and place of death uncertain) was an Irish Catholic priest and educator. Life Little is known about his early life. He went abroad to study for the priesthood, reaching Paris in 1 ...

(born 1694), Irish Roman Catholic priest. *

Brian Donlevy Waldo Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 6, 1972) was an American actor, noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best-known films are ''Beau Geste'' (193 ...

(1889–1972), Irish born American actor. *

Cormac MacDonlevy Cormac is a masculine given name in the Irish and English languages. The name is ancient in the Irish language and is also seen in the rendered Old Norse as ''Kormákr''. Mac is Irish for "son", and can be used as either a prefix or a suffix. ...

(fl. c. 1460), influential medieval Irish physician and medical scholar *

Frank Donlevy Frank Donlevy (born 16 December 1932) is a Scottish former footballer who played for Partick Thistle Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional football club from Glasgow, Scotland. Despite their name, the club are based at Firhill ...

(born 1932), Scottish footballer

Donleavys

J. P. Donleavy James Patrick Donleavy (23 April 1926 – 11 September 2017) was an American-Irish novelist, short story writer and playwright. His best-known work is the novel ''The Ginger Man'', which was initially banned for obscenity. Early life Donleavy ...

(1926–2017), American writer

Dunleavys

Chris Dunleavy Chris Dunleavy (born 30 December 1949) is an English former professional footballer who played for Everton, Southport, Philadelphia Atoms, Chester, Halifax Town and Wollongong FC. Dunleavy was voted Chester's player of the year for 1973–7 ...

(born 1949), English footballer *

Dan Dunleavy Dan Dunleavy (born September 27, 1965) is a Canadian sportscaster for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He was formerly a sportscaster with Sportsnet 590 The Fan, and Rogers Sportsnet. Career Hockey Dunleavy is currently the play ...

(born 1965), Canadian sportscaster *

Jack Dunleavy John Francis Dunleavy (September 14, 1879 – April 11, 1944) was an outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis ...

(1879–1944), American baseball player *

John Dunleavy John Francis Dunleavy (born 3 July 1991) is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender. He currently plays for Finn Harps in the League of Ireland. Career Dunleavy joined Wolverhampton Wanderers academy in October 2006, rejecting the chance ...

(born 1991), Irish footballer *Keith R. Dunleavy, M.D., American medical doctor and founder of Inovalon *

Mary Dunleavy Mary Dunleavy (born 1966) is an American soprano who has performed with major opera companies and orchestras around the world. Life and career Dunleavy grew up in Montvale, New JerseyShengold, David"Focused on Her Game; OCP favorite Mary Dunleavy ...

, American opera singer * A family of American basketball people: ** Mike Dunleavy Sr. (born 1954), player and coach **

Mike Dunleavy Jr. Michael Joseph Dunleavy Jr. (born September 15, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who is the vice president of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previo ...

(born 1980), older son, player **

Baker Dunleavy Baker Dunleavy (born October 5, 1982) is an American college basketball coach and current head coach for the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's basketball team. Playing career After playing at Jesuit High School, Dunleavy took a post-graduate year at the ...

(born 1982), younger son, coach * Mike J. Dunleavy (born 1961), American politician, Governor of Alaska since 2018 *

Patrick Dunleavy Patrick John Dunleavy (born 21 June 1952), is Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Public Policy within the Government Department of the London School of Economics (LSE). He was also Co-Director of Democratic Audit and Chair of the LSE P ...

(born 1952), British political scientist *

Philip Dunleavy Philip Dunleavy CBE (5 October 1915 - 13 January 1996) was a Labour Party councillor in Cardiff, Wales. He was Lord Mayor of Cardiff 1982-83 and leader of Cardiff City Council for five years.Tony Heat"OBITUARY: Philip Dunleavy" ''The Independent' ...

(1915–1996), Welsh politician *

Richard Dunleavy Admiral Richard Michael Dunleavy (born April 25, 1933) is a retired US naval officer. He retired as a two-star rear admiral in 1992 after being demoted from the rank of three-star vice admiral as a result of the Tailhook scandal.Rosemary Dunleavy, American ballerina *

Steve Dunleavy Stephen Francis Patrick Aloysius Dunleavy (21 January 1938 – 24 June 2019) was an Australian journalist based in the United States, best known as a columnist for the ''New York Post'' from 1976 to 2008. He was a lead reporter on the US tabloid ...

(1938–2019), Australian journalist Joe Dunleavy (1998) Rugby player

Dunlevys

Pearl Dunlevy Dr Pearl Dunlevy (13 August 1909 – 3 June 2002), was an Irish physician and epidemiologist working on TB and was the first woman president of the Biological Society of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. Early life and career Born to Ge ...

(1909–2002), Irish doctor

Mac Duinnshléibhes

Cormac Mac Duinnshléibhe Cormac Mac Duinnshléibhe (anglicized as Cormac MacDonlevy) was an Irish physician and scribe, fl. c. 1460. He was an influential medieval Irish physician and medical scholar of the Arabian school educated at universities on the Continent. He is ...

, a fifteenth-century Irish physician and scribe *

Suibhne mac Duinnshléibhe Suibhne mac Duinnshléibhe was a late 12th-century, and early 13th-century, lord in Argyll. He does not appear in contemporary records, although his name appears in the patronymic names of two of his sons. Suibhne appears in the 16th century '' L ...

, a thirteenth-century Scottish magnate

Ó Duinnshléibhes

Donnchadh mac Eoghan Ó Duinnshléibhe Donnchadh mac Eoghan Ó Duinnshléibhe, anglicised as Donough MacOwen O'Donlevy (died 30 September 1527) was an Irish physician. He was the ''ollam leighis'' (official physician) of the O'Donnell dynasty from at least 1497 to 1527. Background ...

, d. 1528. *

Muiris mac Donnchadh Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe Muiris mac Donnchadh Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe, aka Father Muiris Ulltach, Irish cleric, fl. 1602-1630s. Father Muiris Ulltach had attended Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill (d. 1602) on his death-bed in Simancas Castle, Spain, with Father Muiris mac Sea ...

, Irish cleric, fl. 1602–1630s *

Muiris mac Seaán Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe Muiris mac Seaán Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe, aka Father Muiris Ulltach, fl. 1602-1630s. Spain Ó Duinnshléibhe was one of two Donegal men named Father Muiris Ulltach who attended Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill (d. 1602) on his death-bed in Simancas ...

, Irish cleric, fl. 1602–1630s.

List of Mac Duinn Sléibe kings of Ulaid

*Donn Sléibe mac Eochada 1081–1091, the eponymous ancestor of the Mac Duinn Sléibe dynasty. *Donnchad mac Duinn Sléibe 1091–1095 *Eochaid mac Duinn Sléibe 1095–1099 *Donnchad mac Duinn Sléibe 1099–1099 *Eochaid mac Duinn Sléibe 1099–1108 *Donnchad mac Duinn Sléibe 1108–1113 *Áed mac Duinn Sléibe 1113–1127 *Cú Ulad mac Conchobair Chisenaig Mac Duinn Sléibe 1131–1157 *Áed mac Con Ulad Mac Duinn Sléibe 1157–1158 *Eochaid mac Con Ulad Mac Duinn Sléibe 1158–1166 *Magnus mac Con Ulad Mac Duinn Sléibe 1166–1171 *Donn Sléibe mac Con Ulad Mac Duinn Sléibe 1171–1172 *Ruaidrí mac Con Ulad Mac Duinn Sléibe 1172–1201 *Cu-Ulahd Mac Duinn Sléibe (fl. c. 1178)

List of physicians

This is a partial list, based on the Irish annals of members of the MacDonlevy and McNulty physicians of the Cenél Conaill of Tír Conaill. *Muiris MacDonlevy (died 1395) is the first member actually entered in the Irish Annals where they are listed as ''ollahm lieghis chenel Conaill'', the physician to the Cenel Conaill, the ruling dynasty of Tír Conaill. *By his agnomens Paul Ultach or Paul the Ulidian, Muiris's father is also mentioned at this 1395 A.D. entry to be physician who flourished both before and after Muiris. *Murtough Ultaigh Donlevy is recorded as being a physician under an entry for 1497. *Donnell Ultaigh Donlevy the son of an unnamed Ultaigh “ollav” to the O’Donnell in Tir Chonaill, is recorded as having been slain in the year 1567. *

(Donnchadh MacDonlevy), M.D. is recorded as a physician. Donnchadh was educated on the continent at Paris. *Eoghan MacDonlevy, M.D. or Owen Ultach (died 1586) was the son of Donnchadh and also educated at Paris. Considered throughout Ireland and much of Europe as the finest physician of his time, with his skills are not only recounted by the Irish Annals and at the Dictionary of National Biography but also by Stanihurst. *

(fl. c. 1460) was an influential medieval Irish physician and medical scholar, who advanced Irish medieval medical practice by, for the first time, translating seminal continental European medical texts from Latin to vernacular. His translations provided the then exclusively Gaelic language speaking majority of Irish physicians with their first reference access to these texts. The Annals note further that the branch of the MacDonlevy, who had been the physicians, still existed near Kilmacrenan, County Donegal in the early 17th century. Tradition is that the MacDonlevy physicians educated in the medical arts Tír Conaill native

Niall Ó Glacáin Niall Ó Glacáin, or Nellanus Glacanus (c. 1563–1653) was an Irish physician who worked to treat victims of bubonic plague outbreaks in various places throughout Europe. Early life and education Ó Glacáin's date of birth is uncertain. So ...

(Latinised as Nellanus Glacanus). Glacanus became a famed physician, professor of medicine and medical researcher at the

University of Bologna The University of Bologna ( it, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, UNIBO) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. Founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students (''studiorum''), it is the oldest university in continuo ...

References

Bibliography

* * * * {{surname, Donlevy Surnames of Irish origin Anglicised Irish-language surnames Irish families Irish royal families Irish medical families