O'Donohue History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The many Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name O'Donohue originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Donnchadha, which means son of Donnchadh or son of Donagh. 1

Early Origins of the O'Donohue family

The surname O'Donohue was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the O'Donohue family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Donohue research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1640, 1811, 1812 and 1893 are included under the topic Early O'Donohue History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Donohue Spelling Variations

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname O'Donohue were found in the many archives researched. These included Donoghue, Donaghoe, Donaho, Donahoe, Donough, Donahue, Donahow, Doneghoe, Donehue, Donighue, Donohoe,Donahugh, Donohough, Donohow, Donohue, Donaughue, O'Donoghue, Dunphy, Donaghie, Donaghy and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Donohue family

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Donohue Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Donohue 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'Donohue or one of its variants:

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

Bdgt O'Donohue, aged 30, who landed in America from Parickaroche, in 1900
Helen O'Donohue, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Armagh, in 1901
Beatrice O'Donohue, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Cavan, in 1905
Agnes O'Donohue, aged 25, who immigrated to America from Abbeyfeale, in 1906
Ellen O'Donohue, aged 19, who landed in America from Ennis, Ireland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

O'Donohue migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

O'Donohue Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Judy O'Donohue, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
John O'Donohue, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Northern Light" 2
Sarah O'Donohue, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"

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

Anne O'Donohue, aged 19, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 3

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

Ryan Sean O'Donohue (b. 1984), American voice actor, best known for his performances in many Disney projects
John F. O'Donohue, American actor
Daniel Anthony O'Donohue (b. 1931), United States Ambassador to Burma (1983 to 1986)
Joseph J. O'Donohue, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1888 4
Daniel Anthony O'Donohue (b. 1931), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Burma, 1983-86; Thailand, 1988-91 4
Clayton O'Donohue, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1936, 1938; Socialist Labor Candidate for Secretary of State of Michigan, 1940 4
John O'Donohue (1956-2008), Irish poet and philosopher
Anthony "Tony" O'Donohue (b. 1933), Canadian politician
Peter O'Donohue (b. 1923), former Australian rules footballer

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Norther Light 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/northernlight1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html