Surname Dunahoo - Meaning and Origin

Dunahoo: What does the surname Dunahoo mean?

The last name Dunahoo is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Donnchadh" which combines the elements "donn" meaning "brown" and "chadh" meaning "battle". Therefore, Dunahoo can be loosely translated to mean "brown warrior" or "brown battler". It was often used as a nickname for a person with darker skin or hair color or perhaps a fierce warrior or soldier. As with many Irish surnames, they were originally created for the purpose of distinguishing different branches of the same family tree; especially when the families lived in the same area. Over time these names became inherited and lost their original function. Please note, throughout the centuries, spelling and phonetic changes may have occurred.

Dunahoo: Where does the name Dunahoo come from?

The last name Dunahoo is most commonly associated with several places within the United States. Historically, the most prominent area of this surname is in Appalachia, specifically located in the southeastern states of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. In the late 1700s, some ancestors of the Dunahoo family were settlers from Ulster, Ireland, and brought this name with them to the United States.

While Dunahoo may be a common name within Appalachia, it can also be found in other states throughout the US. According to an Ancestry DNA study, Dunahoo is among the top 5 surnames in Mississippi, Kentucky, and South Carolina. It is also a commonly used name in Alabama and Georgia, as well as other southern states.

In addition to being found in many of the United States, the surname Dunahoo is relatively common in other countries, such as Canada, England, Germany, and Switzerland. Furthermore, it is a popular surname amongst some of the Australian aboriginal tribes.

Therefore, it is evident that the surname Dunahoo could be found mainly in the southeastern parts of the United States, as well as other countries scattered throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Dunahoo

Dunahoo is an Anglo-Saxon surname originating from the United Kingdom. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Dunahoe, Dunahou, Dunohue, and Dunhoo.

Dunahoo is thought to be derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century word “dun” meaning a hill or a fortress, and “hoh” meaning a spur of a hill, or a heel, in reference to a hill or ridge where a defensive settlement was built.

The earliest recording of the surname was when one Osker de Donhough was noted in the 1379 ‘Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London’. In 1390, a William Dunhoo was listed in the Lancashire Poll Tax Rolls.

Dunahoo is found mainly in England, Scotland, and Ireland, but also in smaller numbers in Wales.

In 1730, Janet Dunhoo married John Clark in Ayr, Scotland. John Dunahoo Sr. was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1742. In 1738, a Margaret Ann Dunhue was baptised in Dungloe, Ireland.

Variant spellings include Dunahoe, Dunahou, Dunohue, and Dunhoo, although the frequency of these variants is small.

The name may have also been adapted from the Gaelic Irish name Dungan, where the original Gaelic form of the name is 'O Dunadhaigh', which would mean the male descendant of the dun, or fort.

The name Dunahoo has appeared in many official records, such as official birth, marriage and death documents, military service records, census records, and even immigration records. Many people with the surname Dunahoo are descended from Anglo-Saxon settlers who first arrived in British-controlled North America in the 1600s and 1700s.

Today, the Dunahoo family name is found primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Famous people with the name Dunahoo

• Abigail Dunahoo, former Miss Kentucky from 2005.
• Nathan Dunahoo, Atlanta-based artist.
• Hunter Dunahoo, former professional wrestler and NFL football player.
• Benjamin Dunahoo, actor who starred in the film "The Other Side of Heaven".
• Shea Dunahoo, professional mixed martial artist.
• Justice Dunahoo, Canadian basketball player who currently plays for Real Betis Energía Plus.
• Pastor Peter Dunahoo, Generational Visionalist and Senior Pastor at Jesus is Lord Church based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Isabella Dunahoo, American painter and interior designer.
• David Dunahoo, Grammy-nominated composer and songwriter.
• Nicole Dunahoo, founder of Dunahoo and Associates, a professional web design firm.
• Theo Dunahoo, bassist for the Australian rock band The Living End.
• Sarah Dunahoo, former Chicago TV news anchor.
• Chief Aaron Dunahoo, a leader of the Mescalero Apache Native American tribe.
• Michele Dunahoo, American interior designer featured in Southern Living editorial.
• Steven Dunahoo, filmmaker and theater director.
• Robin Dunahoo, an American voice actress.
• Lydia Dunahoo, professional country singer from Texas.
• Dawn Dunahoo, artist specializing in oil painting and sculpting.
• Denise Dunahoo, author of the book Series "From Dallas to Heaven: Living a Life By System".

Other surnames

Dunahay