O'Donovan Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

Many of the Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name O'Donovan originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Donnabhain, derived from the words "donn," which means "brown," and "dubhan," a derivative of "dubh," which means "black." 1

Early Origins of the O'Donovan family

The surname O'Donovan was first found in County Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times at Bruree. Their hereditary territory were the lands along the banks of the river Maigues in that county. They were descended from Crom, the Chief of the Donovans, who built Crom Castle, and he in turn was descended anciently from Eoghan Mor (Eugene the Great), King of Munster. Amhailgadh II's son, Crom's great, great grandfather, was a commander with King Brian Boru in the Battle of Clontarf against the Danes, and it was at this time through marriage that they lost the throne of Munster.

Early History of the O'Donovan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Donovan research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1584, 1639, 1641, 1684, 1689 and 1705 are included under the topic Early O'Donovan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Donovan Spelling Variations

Irish names recorded during the Middle Ages are characterized by many spelling variations. This preponderance of variations for common names can be explained by the fact that the scribes and church officials that kept records during that period individually decided how to capture one's name. These recorders primarily based their decisions on how the name was pronounced or what it meant. Research into the name O'Donovan revealed many variations, including Donovan, Donavon, Donavan, Donevan, Donnovan, Donnavon, Donnavan, Donnovin and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Donovan family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Donal II O'Donovan (Irish: Domhnall Ó Donnabháin), The O'Donovan of Clann Cathail, Lord of Clancahill (died 1639)
Donal III O'Donovan (Irish: Domhnall Ó Donnabháin), The O'Donovan of Clancahill, (born before 1584), he joined the so-called Irish Rebellion of 1641 under Donagh MacCarthy and was accordingly stripped...
Jeremiah O'Donovan (Irish: Diarmaid Ó Donnabháin), The O'Donovan of Clan Loughlin, Lord of Clan Loughlin, MP for Baltimore, County Cork, in 1689, he held the manor of O'Donovan's Leap, or the Manor of...

O'Donovan migration to the United States +

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name O'Donovan or one of its variants:

O'Donovan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Timothy O'Donovan, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1893
William O'Donovan, aged 41, who landed in America from Doneraile, in 1898

O'Donovan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James O'Donovan, aged 22, who settled in America from Dunmanway, in 1902
Alice O'Donovan, aged 1, who landed in America from Limerick, in 1905
Kittie O'Donovan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Lymerick, Ireland, in 1908
William J. O'Donovan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
Gerald O'Donovan, aged 38, who landed in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

O'Donovan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

O'Donovan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Honoria O'Donovan, aged 23, a domestic servant, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name O'Donovan (post 1700) +

William Rudolf O'Donovan (1844-1920), American sculptor
Vita C. O'Donovan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1996 2
Jerome X. O'Donovan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 14th District, 1988 2
Daniel A. O'Donovan (1874-1943), American politician, Mayor of Covington, Kentucky, 1924-27; Member of Kentucky State Legislature 2
Timothy Joseph O'Donovan (1881-1951), Farmers' Party and Fine Gael politician from County Cork, Ireland
Fred O'Donovan (1930-2010), Irish theatre producer and businessman
Paddy O'Donovan (1916-1990), Irish sportsperson
Oliver O'Donovan (b. 1945), Irish scholar in the field of Christian ethics
Denis O'Donovan (b. 1955), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
John O'Donovan, Irish guitarist with The Adolescents punk band
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html