Donoghue or O'Donoghue is an anglicised form of the

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

surname Ó Donnchadha or Ó Donnchú.

Etymology

The name means "descendant of Donnchadh", a personal name composed of the elements ''donn'' "brown-haired an 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 Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

and

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

with the same meaning in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

as in Irish.

Septs in Ireland

There are several completely different O'Donoghue families in Ireland. *(1) The Ó Donnchadha of

Cashel Cashel (an Anglicised form of the Irish language word ''Caiseal'', meaning "stone fort") may refer to: Places in Ireland *Cashel, County Tipperary **The Rock of Cashel, an ancient, hilltop fortress complex for which Cashel is named ** Archbishop ...

, from the

Eóganacht Chaisil Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster between the 5th and 10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel (County Tipperary) which was the capital of the early Catholic kingdom of Munster. They were de ...

, related to the

O'Sullivan O'Sullivan may refer to: People * O'Sullivan family, a gaelic Irish clan * O'Sullivan (surname), a family name * Sullivan (surname), a variation of the O'Sullivan family name Places * O'Sullivan Dam, Washington, United States * O'Sullivan Army He ...

s, MacCarthys and

O'Callaghan O'Callaghan or simply Callaghan without the prefix (anglicized from two separate surnames and clans, '' Ó Ceallacháin,'' Munster Clan. ''Ó Ceileacháin,'' Oriel Clan'')'' is an Irish surname. Origin and meaning Munster The surname means desc ...

s. They descend from

Donnchad mac Cellacháin Donnchad mac Cellacháin (fl. 961–963) was a son of Cellachan of Cashel who is alleged to have briefly ruled as King of Cashel and Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the ...

, King of Munster. *(2) The Ó Donnchadha of Desmond, from the Eóganacht Raithlind, related to the

O'Mahony O'Mahony (Old Irish: ''Ó Mathghamhna''; Modern Irish: ''Ó Mathúna'') is the original name of the clan, with breakaway clans also spelled O'Mahoney, or simply Mahony, Mahaney and Mahoney, without the prefix. Brodceann O'Mahony was the eldest of t ...

s, prominent in

County Kerry County Kerry () is a Counties of Ireland, county on the southwest coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is bordered by two other countie ...

and referred to as "O'Donoghue Mór." They descend from Donnchadh mac Domhnall. *(3) The Ó Donnchadha of

Osraige Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of ...

, from the Clann Conla, related to the Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty ("the Fitzpatricks") and produced some

kings of Osraige The kings of Osraige (alternately spelled ''Osraighe'' and Anglicised as ''Ossory'') reigned over the medieval Irish kingdom of Osraige from the first or second century AD until the late twelfth century. Osraige was a semi-provincial kingdom in s ...

, prominent in

County Kilkenny County Kilkenny () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is named after the City status in Ir ...

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 County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

and

County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...

People with the surname O'Donoghue

Arts, media, and entertainment

Ben O'Donoghue Benjamin O'Donoghue (born 22 May 1970) is an Australian chef. Early years O'Donoghue was five years old when his family moved from England to Port Hedland, Western Australia. At the age of ten, his family moved to Perth. On finishing school O'D ...

, Australian celebrity chef * Bernard O'Donoghue, Irish poet and academic *

Colin O'Donoghue Colin O'Donoghue (born 26 January 1981) is an Irish actor and musician, best known for portraying Captain Hook, Captain Killian "Hook" Jones on the ABC TV show ''Once Upon a Time (TV series), Once Upon a Time''. He appeared in the horror film, ...

, Irish actor currently acting at

Once Upon A Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 in storytelling in the English language and has started many narrative ...

* Danny O'Donoghue, lead singer of the Irish band "

The Script The Script are an Irish Soft rock, soft-rock band formed in 2001 in Dublin. The band currently consists of Danny O'Donoghue (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Glen Power (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Benjamin Seargent (bass, backin ...

" * David James O'Donoghue, journalist and author * Gary O'Donoghue, BBC journalist *

Michael O'Donoghue Michael O'Donoghue (January 5, 1940 – November 8, 1994) was an American writer, actor, editor and comedian. He was known for his dark and destructive style of comedy and humor, and was a major contributor to ''National Lampoon'' maga ...

, Irish-American comedian, writer and occasional performer for

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

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) John O'Donoghue (born 28 May 1956) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2007 to 2009, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism from 2002 to 2007, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Ref ...

, Irish

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

politician, former cabinet minister and former

Ceann Comhairle The (; "Head of heCouncil"; plural usually ) is the chairperson (or speaker) of , the lower house of the (parliament) of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the from among their number in the first session ...

Juan O'Donojú Juan José Rafael Teodomiro de O'Donojú y O'Ryan (, 30 July 1762 – 8 October 1821) was a Spanish-Irish people, Irish military officer, diplomat and Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) from 21 July 1821 to 28 September 1821 during the Mexican War ...

, Spanish military officer and last viceroy of

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( ; Nahuatl: ''Yankwik Kaxtillan Birreiyotl''), originally the Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain. It was one of several ...

* Kevin O'Donoghue, the first Chief of Defence Materiel in the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence * Lowitja O'Donoghue,

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands. Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 year ...

nurse, public servant, and Indigenous rights advocate *

Martin O'Donoghue Martin O'Donoghue (19 May 1933 – 20 July 2018) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Education (Ireland), Minister for Education from March 1982 to October 1982 and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Spo ...

, Irish

economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social sciences, social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this ...

and

politician * Nan Joyce née O'Donoghue,

Irish Travellers Irish Travellers (, meaning ''the walking people''), also known as Mincéirs ( Shelta: ''Mincéirí'') or Pavees, are a traditionally peripatetic indigenous ethno-cultural group originating in Ireland.''Questioning Gypsy identity: ethnic na ...

' right activist

Other people

* Charles Henry O'Donoghue, zoologist *

Florence O'Donoghue Florence O'Donoghue (22 July 1894–18 December 1967) was an Irish revolutionary who served as head of intelligence of the Cork No. 1 Brigade of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. While opposed to the Anglo-Iris ...

, Irish historian and intelligence specialist * Geoffrey Paul Vincent O'Donoghue of the Glensprofile
* Kevin O'Donoghue, artist educator] at

Clonkeen College Clonkeen College is a Congregation of Christian Brothers, Christian Brothers secondary school for boys in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, South County Dublin. History The Ordnance Survey Ireland map 1837–1842 shows ''Clonkeen School Ho se', loc ...

* 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

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
{{Eóganachta Surnames Ancient Irish dynasties Anglicised Irish-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin