Surname Donohue - Meaning and Origin

My Surreal Journey to Self-Discovery: A Tale Aligned by DNA and Surname Donohue

Taking an iGENEA DNA test provided an enlightening look into my personal identity and heritage. The process extended meaning to my surname, Donohue, giving it a newfound sense of value.

R. Donohue

Donohue: What does the surname Donohue mean?

The last name Donohue is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Donnchadh" which means "brown" or "dark" in addition to "battle". Thus the combined interpretation can be interpreted as "brown-haired or dark-haired warrior." It was typically given as a first name to male individuals who were of strong and warrior-like demeanor. As a surname, it was used as an identifier, passed down through generations in Irish families. Today, several variations of the spelling exist, such as Donoghue, Donahue, and Dunphy, among others. It is commonly found in Ireland and among those of Irish descent around the world. Nevertheless, like many surnames, interpretation of the meaning is not precise due to changes in language and cultural context over centuries.

Donohue: Where does the name Donohue come from?

The last name Donohue is an Irish surname that is common in many parts of the world today, particularly in countries and regions with strong Irish heritage. Ireland is home to the highest concentration of Donohues, with over 6,000 currently recorded. Donohue is also quite common in the United States, with approximately 16,000 people bearing the name.

In terms of the United States, the Donohue name is most prevalent in the Northeast. New York has the highest number, with Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania following closely behind. Overall, Donohues make up over 0.01% of the total American population.

Outside of the United States, Donohue can be found in various pockets around the world. Canada is among the countries with the highest concentration of Donohues, with 1,600+ currently reported. In Europe, the largest Donohue populations reside in England and Scotland, followed closely by Northern Ireland.

The Donohue name is also common in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and even Barbados. No matter where they are, it is clear the Donohue name still has a strong presence in the world today.

Variations of the surname Donohue

The Donohue surname is of Irish origin and is derived from the Irish O'Donoghue. Formally, the proper spelling is O'Donoghue, however, many variations have come about over time, including Donoghue, Donoghue, Donahue, Donehoo, Donahow, Donohoe, Donahoe, Donoho, Donahoo, Donahugh, Donahugh, Donoue, Donahoo, O'Donaughue, and Donahugh.

The spelling variations of Donohue can be traced back to the language and dialect variations of Gaelic names. Today, the vast majority of Irish names are written in the English language and because of this there are many different spelling variations.

At one point, many grammar rules used to determine how to spell certain names and even words were not standardized. Spelling variations were often determined by local dialects and the perceptions of the individual family members at the time the name was created or passed down.

Today, the Donohue surname is quite common in the United States and is found especially in Irish-American populations. Some of the many variants of the surname include Donoghue, Donoghue, Donahue, Donehoo, Donahow, Donohoe, Donahoe, Donoho, Donahoo, Donahugh, Donahugh, Donoue, Donahoo, O'Donaughue, and Donahugh.

Famous people with the name Donohue

• Rebecca Donohue: American-born professional basketball player
• Jemma Donohue: English dancer and actress
• Mary Donohue: United States judge
• Jim Donohue: former Major League Soccer player
• T.J. Donohue: American actor
• Brian Donohue: American radio host
• W. John Donohue: American Roman Catholic prelate
• Dana Donohue: American social media star
• Gene Donohue: American former National Football League player
• Frank Donohue: American composer
• Brian T. Donohue: American journalist
• Danny Donohue: American union leader
• Marcus Donohue: Irish former rugby union player
• Christopher Donohue: American former Major League Baseball player
• Paul Donohue: Canadian news anchor
• Ben Donohue: former NRL player
• Pat Donohue: musician, songwriter and radio host
• Joe Donohue: American football player and coach
• Shawn Donohue: Canadian-born actor
• Cory Donohue: American musician and producer

Other surnames

DonoheyDonohoDonohoeDonohoo