From IrishGen.com
Surnames & Heraldry
DONOHOE (Variant of O'Donoghue)
Welcome to Donohoe page. We have classified this surname as part of the main O'Donoghue surname group. Other variants in this group are Donahue, Donoghue, Dunphy, O'Donjou, Ó Donnchadha and O''Donohoe.
Variant of: O'Donoghue
Other variants: Donahue, Donoghue, Dunphy, O'Donjou, Ó Donnchadha, O''Donohoe
Original name: Ó Donnchú
Ethnic origin: Gaelic
Origin type: Monogenetic
Surname class: Derived from ancestor (patronymics)
Counties in which this surname is most commonly found: Tipperary
Origin and Meaning
This surname means “descendant of Donnchadh, meaning ‘brown warrior, strong warrior’. The O’Donoghues derive their name and descent from Donnchadh, son of Ceallachan, King of Cashel.
Development and History
Donoghue or Donohoe or more suitably O’Donoghue is one of the most important and most common surnames in Ireland. In early times there existed several distinct septs the major ones being O’Donoghue of Desmond, O’Donoghue of Uí Máine (Hy Many) and O’Donoghue of Co. Cavan. The original territory of the O’Donoghues was in west Cork but they were driven by the MacCarthys and the O’Mahonys some time in the 13th century out of West Cork. They subsequently settled in Kerry. In 1890 the estimated number of bearers of this Gaelic surname spread across Cork and Kerry was 1, 750. In keeping with other powerful Irish families the O’Donoghues distinguished themselves in the armies of continental powers in the 18th century. Their surname in Spain became O’Donoju.
