Surname Donoghow - Meaning and Origin
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Donoghow: What does the surname Donoghow mean?
The last name Donoghow has Irish origins. The most accepted origin of the name is from the Gaelic O Donnchadha, which translates to “descendant of Donnchadh”. Donnchadh means “brown or dark-haired warrior”, and the surname is thought to have originated from a warrior who lived hundreds of years ago in what is now the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland.
The spelling of the surname has changed many times through the centuries, with some variations being Donahow, Donahoe, Donoghue, Donaghy, and Donaghue. These surname variations are all of the same Irish origin and are quite common in Ireland.
The Donoghow surname is most common throughout Ireland, particularly in counties Donegal, Derry and Antrim. Over time, those of the Donoghow surname were known to have spread to other Irish countries, such as the United States and Canada, as well as to parts of the United Kingdom, especially Scotland.
Today, the Donoghow name is still prominent and is a reminder of the long Irish heritage behind it. Those who bear the Donoghow name often take pride in their Irish ancestry and are proud to hold a title that is centuries old. It is an Irish surname full of history, charm, and stories that will continue to be shared and passed on through many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisDonoghow: Where does the name Donoghow come from?
The last name Donoghow is an Irish surname, thought to derive from the Irish O Donnchadha or O Donoghue. It's a fairly common name in Ireland, where records suggest that over 10,000 people have the surname today.
The name appears throughout the Irish diaspora, particularly in parts of the United States. In the 2020 United States census, over 2,000 people were registered under the surname. It is most common in states where there is a particularly large Irish-born population, such as Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.
Donoghow is also common in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Scotland. According to the UK census, the surname is the 403rd most common in England and Wales, and is the 375th most common in Scotland. It appears to be particularly popular in the town of Plymouth, where the name is the 72nd most common surname.
Elsewhere in the world, the name is relatively rare. However, it does crop up in small numbers in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is also found in small numbers throughout continental Europe, particularly Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Overall, the last name Donoghow is most common in Ireland, the United States, the UK and parts of continental Europe. It is relatively rare in other parts of the world, although a small number of people do bear the name.
Variations of the surname Donoghow
The surname Donoghow is an anglicized version of the spelling Donoughue or Donaghue, which is the English version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Donnchadha.
Other popular anglicized variants of Donoghow include Donaghhue, Donohue, Donohoe, Donoghoo, and Donoghou.
Variations in spelling over the years can also lead to other spellings of the name such as Donoghow, Donoghoue, Donaghoe, Donoghue, Donoghoe, Donaghoue, Donoghhou, Donohowe, Donghow, Donoghuue and Donoghhoue.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Donoghow may include Donahue, Donahoe, Donahoe, Donovan, Donough, Donahy, Donigan, Donnohue, Donoughe, Donnelly, McDonough and O'Donoghue.
The variations in spelling of the surname Donoghow can be attributed to regional dialects and the varying attempts of English-speaking registrars to transcribe the name as it is pronounced by the person being registered.
In some cases, Irish surnames were deliberately adjusted by non-Irish speakers to make their pronunciation easier. As a result, slight spelling variations have been adopted over time.
Famous people with the name Donoghow
- Paddy Donoghoe: Irish politician who served as Minister for Justice from 1992 to 1994.
- Paul Donoghue: Irish actor, best known for his roles in the films from The Field, The Snapper, and The Road to Wellville.
- Michael Donoghue: American basketball coach, who most recently coached for the Vermont Catamounts men's basketball team.
- Paddy Donoghue: English musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Lorraine Donoghue: New Zealand actress, known for her roles in Shortland Street, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Xena: Warrior Princess.
- Margaret Donoghue: American poet, novelist, playwright and short story writer.
- John Donoghue: American politician, who represented the 6th district of Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1997.
- Caitríona Donoghue: Irish poet and playwright, known for her works Eyeless in Gaza, Country of the Heart, and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
- Tom Donoghue: Irish politician, who was a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Longford-Westmeath from 2000 to 2016.
- Seosamh Donoghue: Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Clare senior team.