Donahey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

All Irish surnames have underlying meanings that can be traced back to their fullest points when the names first appeared in a Gaelic form. The name Donahey originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Donnchadha, which means son of Donnchadh or son of Donagh.

Early Origins of the Donahey family

The surname Donahey was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Donahey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donahey research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1698, 1728, 1746, 1779, 1850, 1878 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Donahey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donahey Spelling Variations

Many variations of the name Donahey were found in archives from the Middle Ages. The spelling and language in which the people's names were recorded was often up to the individual scribe. Variations of the name Donahey found include Donaghey, McDonogh, McDonnogh, McDonagh and many more.

Early Notables of the Donahey family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donahey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donahey migration to the United States +

The 18th and 19th centuries saw many Irish families immigrate to North America in search of land and opportunities. The largest influx of Irish immigrants to the United States and British North America came during the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine laid waste to their homeland. Hundreds of thousands left the island in an attempt to escape the starvation and disease it brought. Although the arrival of such a large number of destitute Irish was not welcomed by the established population in the United States and what would become known as Canada at the time, these Irish were an essential element to the rapid development of these growing industrial nations. They filled the demand for the cheap labor needed for the work in factories and in the construction of bridges, roads, canals, and railways. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many immigrants bearing the name of Donahey or one of its variants:

Donahey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Donahey, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1846 1
Daniel Donahey, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1852 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Donahey (post 1700) +

John William Donahey, American Democratic Party politician, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, 1959-63; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1960
Gertrude Walton Donahey (1908-2004), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1964; Ohio Treasurer of State, 1971-83
Alvin Victor Donahey (1873-1946), American Democratic Party politician, Gosher Township Clerk, 1900-04; Tuscarawas County Auditor, 1904-09; Delegate to Ohio State Constitutional Convention, 1911-12; Ohio auditor of state, 1913-21; Governor of Ohio, 1923-29; Defeated, 1920; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1935-41
William Donahey (1883-1970), American cartoonist and creator of The Teenie Weenies which appeared in the Chicago Tribune for over 50 years
Gertrude Walton Donahey (1908-2004), American Democratic Party politician, Ohio State Treasurer (1971-1983), wife of John William Donahey
John William Donahey (1905-1967), American Democratic Party politician, 53rd Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (1959-1963), son of Alvin Victor Donahey
Alvin Victor Donahey (1873-1946), American Democratic Party politician, 50th Governor of Ohio (1923-1929), and United States Senator from Ohio (1935-1941)

The Donahey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtutis gloria merces
Motto Translation: Glory is the reward of valour.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)