Donahue
Encyclopedia
Donahue is the Americanized version of Irish surname Donohoe, which, in turn, is an Anglicized version of the ancient Irish name "Donnchadh" (sometimes "Donncha").
Donncha was a common “first name” in 9th Century Ireland, and when the use of surnames became more common in Ireland around the 10th Century, many people looked to a respected common ancestor to form a surname. The ancestors of the modern Donahues took the name O’Donnchadha , of the line of Donnacha. However, these modern Donahues are not all descended from the same person named Donnacha; rather, the modern Donahues are likely descended from one of at least eight unrelated Donnachas, each of whose descendants adopted the surname O’Donnchadha.
There are eight known O'Donoghue ancient tribal areas in Ireland. They were in Munster: Tipperary, Cork/Kerry - Leinster: Kilkenny, Wicklow/Dublin, Meath - Connaught: Galway, Mayo/Sligo, Cavan. Considerable migration took place over the centuries and family groups took root in many other counties (eg Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Roscommon and others), which would today be recognised as their areas of origin.
The Donohoes of the ancient Kingdom of Breifne, centered in modern-day Co. Cavan, are genetically linked to 4th century Irish warlord Niall of the Nine Hostages.
When the name O’Donnchadha became Anglicized, at least 30 different spellings developed in Ireland, but by the 19th Century the most common spelling was "Donohoe." Of 2,800 families reporting variations of the name at the time of Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864), 2,483, or 88%, were listed as “Donohoe.” None were listed as “Donahue.” The name distribution geographically during this same period reflects that there were significant clusters of Donohoes found in various parts of Ireland, including County Cavan, County Cork, County Galway, and County Kerry.
The name Donahue may refer to one of several people:
Donncha was a common “first name” in 9th Century Ireland, and when the use of surnames became more common in Ireland around the 10th Century, many people looked to a respected common ancestor to form a surname. The ancestors of the modern Donahues took the name O’Donnchadha , of the line of Donnacha. However, these modern Donahues are not all descended from the same person named Donnacha; rather, the modern Donahues are likely descended from one of at least eight unrelated Donnachas, each of whose descendants adopted the surname O’Donnchadha.
There are eight known O'Donoghue ancient tribal areas in Ireland. They were in Munster: Tipperary, Cork/Kerry - Leinster: Kilkenny, Wicklow/Dublin, Meath - Connaught: Galway, Mayo/Sligo, Cavan. Considerable migration took place over the centuries and family groups took root in many other counties (eg Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Roscommon and others), which would today be recognised as their areas of origin.
The Donohoes of the ancient Kingdom of Breifne, centered in modern-day Co. Cavan, are genetically linked to 4th century Irish warlord Niall of the Nine Hostages.
When the name O’Donnchadha became Anglicized, at least 30 different spellings developed in Ireland, but by the 19th Century the most common spelling was "Donohoe." Of 2,800 families reporting variations of the name at the time of Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864), 2,483, or 88%, were listed as “Donohoe.” None were listed as “Donahue.” The name distribution geographically during this same period reflects that there were significant clusters of Donohoes found in various parts of Ireland, including County Cavan, County Cork, County Galway, and County Kerry.
The name Donahue may refer to one of several people:
- Ann DonahueAnn DonahueAnn Donahue is a prominent television writer. She along with Carol Mendelsohn and Anthony Zuiker created the successful CSI franchise which includes CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY...
(born 1955), American television writer - Art DonahueArt DonahueArthur Gerald "Art" Donahue was a United States fighter pilot and ace who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force in World War II. He was killed in action.-Early life:...
(1913-1942), American pilot who flew for the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain - Cornelius DonahueCornelius DonahueCornelius Donahue alias "Lame Johnny", born in Philadelphia about 1850, died 1878Cattle rustler, horse thief and general Wild West Outlaw from the Black Hills of South Dakota...
(1850–1878), American Old West outlaw - Elinor Donahue (born 1937), American actress
- Heather DonahueHeather DonahueHeather Donahue is an American writer and actress who first came to public attention after appearing as the lead character in Haxan Films' 1999 horror film The Blair Witch Project...
(born 1974), American actress - Jack DonahueJack DonahueJack Donohue was a bushranger in Australia. He had numerous ballads written about him, including Bold Jack Donahue.Jack Donahue was born in Dublin in 1806...
(1804–1830), Australian outlaw - Jack DonahueJack Donahue (Louisiana politician)John Leo Donahue, Jr., known as Jack Donahue is a building contractor and philanthropist in Mandeville, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 11...
(born 1944), Louisiana politician and philanthropist - Jed DonahueJed Donahue"Jalapeño" Jed Donahue is a competitive eater from Huntington Beach, CA and a top-ranked member of International Federation of Competitive Eating . Donahue is a grizzled veteran who has maintained a boyish, optimistic attitude to eating...
(born 1960), American Sports Radio - Jed DonahueJed Donahue"Jalapeño" Jed Donahue is a competitive eater from Huntington Beach, CA and a top-ranked member of International Federation of Competitive Eating . Donahue is a grizzled veteran who has maintained a boyish, optimistic attitude to eating...
, American competitive eater - Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
(born 1946), American guitarist - Jiggs DonahueJiggs DonahueJohn Augustus "Jiggs" Donahue was a Major League Baseball player for 9 seasons from 1900-1909. Born in Springfield, Ohio, Donahue began his career as a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Brewers , and St...
, American baseball player - Jim DonahueJim DonahueJames Augustus "Jim" Donahue was an American Major League Baseball player from Lockport, Illinois who played his entire career in the American Association from through .-Career:...
(1862–1935), American baseball player - John DonahueJohn DonahueJohn Frederick Donahue [Jiggs] was right fielder in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1923 season. Listed at 5' 8", 170 lb., Donahue was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
, American baseball player - John F. "Jack" Donahue, American founder of Federated Investors
- Jonathan DonahueJonathan DonahueJonathan Daniel Donahue is an American rock musician. He has been an integral member of two of North America's more influential indie/experimental bands of the 1990s; The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev....
, American rock guitarist - Joseph DonahueJoseph DonahueJoseph Donahue is an American poet, critic, and editor. Donahue was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 22, 1954 and grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended Columbia University and lived for many years in New York City...
(born 1954), American poet - Lisa DonahueLisa DonahueLisa Donahue was the winner of the third season of the CBS reality series, Big Brother. Prior to the show she was a bartender.-Big Brother:...
(born 1976), American reality TV contestant and actress - Mike DonahueMike DonahueMichael Joseph "Iron Mike" Donahue was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, baseball, tennis, track, soccer, and golf, and a college athletics administrator...
(1871–1960), American athlete and football coach - Pat DonahuePat DonahuePatrick William "Pat" Donahue was a Major League Baseball catcher. He started into professional baseball when he was only 23. He played as a catcher and first baseman. In the three years he played pro ball, he only hit three home runs. He was on the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics and the...
, American baseball player - Patty DonahuePatty DonahuePatricia J. "Patty" Donahue was the American lead singer of the 1980s new wave group The Waitresses.-Career:...
(1956–1996), American New Wave singer - Phil DonahuePhil DonahuePhillip John "Phil" Donahue is an American media personality, writer, and film producer best known as the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, also known as Donahue, was the first to use a talk show format. The show had a 26-year run on U.S...
(born 1935), American talk show host - Red DonahueRed DonahueFrancis Rostell "Red" Donahue was an American Major League Baseball pitcher from Waterbury, Connecticut, who played for 13 seasons both in the National League and the American League from through .-Career:...
(Francis Rostell "Red" Donahue, 1873–1913), American baseball player - Richard Donahue (1979-1984) British actor and taxidermist
- Sam DonahueSam DonahueSam Donahue was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist, trumpeter and musical arranger. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he is probably best known for his work with Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Billy May, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and many others.He is the father of guitarist Jerry...
(1918-1974), American saxophonist - Terry DonahueTerry Donahue (baseball)Terry Donahue is a former female utility in baseball, playing mainly as a catcher for the Peoria Redwings of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from through . Listed at 5' 2", 125 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.Donahue was born in Saskatchewan, Canada of Irish ancestry...
(born 1925), Canadian female professional baseball player - Terry DonahueTerry DonahueTerry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
(born 1944), American college football coach - Thomas R. DonahueThomas R. DonahueThomas Reilly Donahue was Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO from 1979 to 1995 and served briefly as its acting President during the second half of 1995.- Early life :...
(born 1928), American organized labor activist - Tim Donahue (1870-1902), American baseball player
- Timothy DonahueTimothy DonahueTimothy Donahue was Executive Chairman of Sprint Nextel. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of Nextel Communications Inc. He began his career with Nextel in January 1996 as president and chief operating officer. On October 10, 2006, Mr...
, American executive - Troy DonahueTroy DonahueTroy Donahue was an American actor, who was active between the late 1950s and late 1990s.-Life and career:...
(1936–2001), American actor
Other uses
- Donahue, IowaDonahue, IowaDonahue is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census. The city has a mayor-council form of government.- Education :...
, a small city in the United States - The Phil Donahue ShowThe Phil Donahue ShowThe Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, is an American television talk show that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, and it was broadcast nationwide between 1967 and 1996.In 2002, Donahue was ranked #29 on TV Guide's...
, also known as Donahue
See also
- DonohueDonohueDonohue is an originally an Irish surname which is abbreviated from O Donohue. .It may refer to:* Adam Donohue , Australian rules footballer* David Donohue , American race car driver...
- O'DonoghueO'DonoghueDonoghue or O'Donoghue is an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Donnchadha or Ó Donnchú ‘descendant of Donnchadh’, a personal name composed of the elements donn = ‘brown-haired man’ or ‘lord’ + cath = ‘battle’....
- Ross CastleRoss CastleRoss Castle is the ancestral home of the O'Donoghue clan though it is better known for its association with the Brownes of Killarney who owned it until recently...
, ancestral home of the O'Donoghue clan, in County Kerry
- Ross Castle