Surname Donoghue - Meaning and Origin

Donoghue: What does the surname Donoghue mean?

Donoghue is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Donnchadh", which means "brown warrior". It is a combination of two words, "donn" meaning "brown" and "cath", meaning "battle" or "warrior". The Donoghue family was a part of the ancient Irish nobility and the clan originated in different parts of Ireland such as Kerry, Galway, Cork, and Clare. The family motto is "Strength and Worth", indicating their historical significance. Despite its Irish origins, the surname has spread throughout the world due to emigration, especially during the periods of the Great Famine in the 19th century. Today, there are variations in the spelling of the name, including Donohoe, Donohue, and Dunphy among others.

Donoghue: Where does the name Donoghue come from?

Donoghue is a popular surname common in many parts of the world today. It first originated in Ireland in the 12th century, and today it is found in many all over the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Donoghue family were originally part of the high-ranking ruling elite of the island of Ireland known as the 'Gall Ó Domhnaill'. Due to the turbulent history of the island, family members found themselves scattered across the world in the centuries that followed.

Today, the surname Donoghue is still very much alive and well in Ireland, with many families still carrying on the tradition of their ancestors who first settled the island. The United States also has a population of hundreds if not thousands of Donoghue relatives, descended from Irish immigrants who left Ireland to search for a better life.

Similarly, the relatively recent wave of Irish diaspora around the turn of the 20th century saw thousands of Irishpeople emigrating to lands such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, all taking their beloved last names such as Donoghue with them. It is safe to say that this family name, and its proud heritage, are likely to remain integral to Irish and non-Irish society alike for many more generations to come.

Variations of the surname Donoghue

Donoghue is a surname that originates from the ancient Irish Clan Ó Donchadha. The surname comes from a personal name composed of two elements, the Irish word donn meaning “chief” and cath meaning “battle”. The variant spelling of the surname includes Donahue, Donohoe, Donahoe and Donohue. Some related surnames of the same origin include O'Donaghue, Donahugh, Donogue, Donohey, Donoughue, Doonahue, Doonohue, Donohugh, Donogh, Donahugh, Donahie, Donoghy, Donagh, and Donahoe. The Irish Gaelic spelling of the surname is Ó Donchadha.

Donoghue is a very popular surname, especially in Ireland. According to Irish Census records in 2016, 7450 people in Ireland had the surname Donoghue. It is also common to find people with the surname of Donoghue in America, Australia, the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries. The commonest variant spellings in 2016 were Donohue (2152), Donohoe (1871), Donoghue (1179) and Donahue (979).

In the United States, people with the surname of Donoghue are found in large numbers in states such as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These states have historically been popular among Irish immigrants. The earliest record of the surname in the United States is that of Michael Donahue who was in Trinity Church, New York City, in 1832.

Although Donoghue is the most common variant spelling of the surname, there are many variants and related surnames of the same origin. The variants and related surnames of the same origin provide a more complete picture of the Irish Clan Ó Donchadha and their descendants throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Donoghue

• Emma Donoghue: Canadian-Irish author best known for her novel Room, which was adapted into the 2015 film of the same name that was nominated for four Academy Awards.
• Jay Donoghue: Former American professional lacrosse player who was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2019.
• Bruce Donoghue: Grammy Award-winning American songwriter and record producer.
• Maria Donoghue: American lawyer and the 25th United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition).
• Scarlett Donoghue: American actor most known for the feature film Tully and the TV series Shameless.
• Philips Donoghue: Welsh historian and academic who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Wales from 2012–2018.
• John Donoghue: American neuroscientist and the former director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
• Michelle Donoghue: Canadian field hockey player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Kathleen Donoghue: American ice hockey coach and general manager for the United States women's national ice hockey team.
• Brendan Donoghue: Irish professional poker player who was the winner of the 2005 European Poker Tour Berlin event.

Other surnames

DonoghoeDonoghow