Donohoe

Donohoe or O'Donoghue is an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Donnchadha ‘descendant of Donnchadh’, a personal name composed of the elements donn = ‘brown-haired man’ or ‘lord’ + cath = ‘battle’.

Spelling variations (which include an initial O' or omit it) include Donoghue, Donaghoe, Donoughe, Donaho, Donahoe, Donahow, Doneghoe, Donehue, Donighue, Donoho, Donahugh, Donohough, Donohow, Donohue, Donaughue, Donaghie, Donaghy and many more.

The O'Donoghue name is first found in Co. Kerry, Ireland where they held and still hold a family seat, O'Donohue of the Glens from very ancient times. This family is associated with two powerful ancient kingdoms of Munster, Eóganacht Raithlind and Eóganacht Locha Léin, having migrated from the former to conquer the latter.

It should be noted that the Scottish Clan Robertson, anciently known as Clann Dhònnchaidh, 'Children of Dònnchadh' is of separate origin.