Surname Donough - Meaning and Origin

Donough: What does the surname Donough mean?

Donough is an Anglicized or Americanized version of the Irish surname, Ó Donnchadha, derived from the personal name Donnchadh. The personal name Donnchadh is composed of two elements, "donn" meaning brown, and "chadh" which means chief or noble. Therefore, the last name Donough effectively translates to "descendant of the brown chief" or "descendant of the brown noble". This name is most prevalent in Ireland, particularly in the region of Munster. However, due to widespread Irish diaspora, this surname can also be found in many English-speaking countries around the world. Like many Irish surnames, variations in spelling can occur, including Donoghue, Donahue, and Dunphy, amongst others.

Donough: Where does the name Donough come from?

The last name Donough is most common in Ireland and other parts of the British Isles, but it has spread to other parts of the world over the centuries. It is especially prevalent in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, as well as other countries with historical ties to the British Isles.

The name is most commonly found in the northeast of the United States and particularly in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. It is also common in several other states in the eastern part of the US such as South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan.

In the United Kingdom, Donough is particularly prevalent in Wales, England and Ireland. In the Commonwealth, it is common in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Donough is derived from the Irish surname ‘Ó Donnchadh’, which is itself derived from the Gaelic Donnchadh or Donncha, meaning ‘chieftain’ or ‘head of a family’.

Despite being of Irish origin, its distribution has spread across many areas of the world. It is believed that many families bearing the Donough surname can trace their roots back to the British Isles, a migration which likely occurred in response to a number of events throughout history. Today, the last name Donough is still commonly seen all across the British Isles as well as other countries around the world, with its origins harking back to the ancient land of Ireland.

Variations of the surname Donough

The surname Donough (or Donoghue) is an Irish surname originating from the Gaelic “O'Donnchadha”. Primarily, it is found in Ireland and Scotland today, though there are also some examples of the surname in England and other parts of the world.

Variations on the spelling of the surname include Donohue, Dono, Donahue, O'Donohue, Donagh, Donnchadha, Donoough, Donachi, Donaghy, Donaghey, Donaghoe, and Donnechy.

The various variants and spellings all originate from the same root. This is a common phenomenon with Irish surnames, as most were originally written in the Irish language, but then the spelling was changed as the surname became adopted by different countries and cultures.

From Scotland, one Canada-based branch uses the spelling 'Donough' and its variants, and the same spelling can also be found in the United States.

In Ireland itself, more traditional spellings like Donoghue are still in use, and the variants Donagh and Donnchadha are also seen.

The surnames Donough, Donoghue, Donahue, O'Donohue, Donagh, Donnchadha, Donoough, Donachi, Donaghy, Donaghey, Donaghoe, and Donnechy are all spellings that have descended from the same root and are linked to each other in one way or another.

Famous people with the name Donough

• Luke Donough: He is a professional American Soccer player from Virginia.
• Richard Donough: He is an actor who played roles in various shows such as ‘Third Watch’ and ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent.’
• Jean Donough: She is a multi-inventory artist who has been exhibited in galleries throughout the world.
• Jackson Donough: He is a college professor at Lindenwood University.
• Ryan Donough: He is a young car racing athlete from Northern Ireland.
• Shawn Donough: He is an Emmy award-winning makeup artist who has worked on many television shows.
• Terhrace Donough: He is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks.
• Nancy Donough: She is a prolific author of children's books and has won numerous awards for her work.
• Kyle Donough: He is an up-and-coming Hollywood screenwriter.
• Donovan Donough: He is an Olympic bronze medalist in swimming.

Other surnames

Donoughue