Tracing your Irish ancestry - The O'Donoghue clan

Explore the origin of the O'Donoghue family name, its famous members, and other interesting facts.

IrishCentral Staff

Mar 20, 2019

$Here are some interesting facts about the Irish last name O\'Donoghue, including its history, family crest, coat of arms, and famous clan members.$

Here are some interesting facts about the Irish last name O'Donoghue, including its history, family crest, coat of arms, and famous clan members.

Everything you need to know about the Irish surname O'Donoghue

Irish derivation: Ó Donnchadha.

Name meaning: "Descendant of Donnchadh."

Counties associated with the name: Galway, Cavan, Kerry and Cork.

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Coat of arms motto: "Nunquam non Paratus" or Never Unprepared.

Interesting facts about the surname O'Donoghue

The family traces its lineage from the eleventh-century Eoghanacht dynasty of Munster, which participated in the battle of Clontarf in 1014.

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Some famous O'Donoghues:

Juan de O'Donojú (1762-1821, last Viceroy of Mexico)
Bernard O'Donoghue (1945-, contemporary Irish poet and academic)
Florence O'Donoghue (1895–1967, Irish historian and military intelligence expert)
Ben O'Donoghue (1970-, Australian Celebrity Chef)
Danny O'Donoghue (1980-, lead singer of The Script)
Lowitja O'Donoghue (1932-, Aboriginal Australian civil rights activist)

Do you know any O'Donoghue's? Let us know in the comments!