Donoghue or O’Donoghue is an anglicized form of the Gaelic language surname Ó Donnchadha or Ó Donnchú.
The name means “descendant of Donnchadh”, a personal name composed of the elements donn “brown-haired [man]” and cath “battle”. Spelling variations (which include an initial “Ó” or omit it) include Donoghue, Donaghoe, Donoughe, Donaho, Donahoe, Donough, Donahue, Donahow, Doneghoe, Donehue, Donighue, Donihue, Donoho, Donohoe, Donahugh, Donohough, Donohow, Donohue, Donaughue, Donaghie, Donaghy, Doughue, Dougue, Donihoo and many more.
The chief non-MacCarthy Gaelic princes under the MacCarthy Mórs in Desmond were the O’Sullivans: after them were the O’Donoghues, and these two were the only clans who took part in the performance of the MacCarthy inauguration ceremonies – i.e., the bestowal of the White Wand.
The White Rod, White Wand, Rod of Inauguration, or Wand of Sovereignty, in the Gaelic language variously called the slat na ríghe (rod of kingship) and slat tighearnais (rod of lordship), was the primary symbol of a Gaelic king or lord’s legitimate authority and the principal prop used in his inauguration ceremony. First documented in the 12th century Life of Máedóc of Ferns, but assumed to have been used long before then, it is last documented in Ireland in the early 17th century. While the reception of the rod was in origin a Gaelic cultural feature, following the Norman invasion of Ireland some foreign families became significantly Gaelicised. A notable Anglo-Norman example were the great De Burgh magnates styled Mac William Íochtar, who had become completely Gaelicised and received the White Rod.
There are several completely different O’Donoghue families in Ireland:
- The Ó Donnchadha of Cashel, from the Eóganacht Chaisil, related to the O’Sullivans, MacCarthys and O’Callaghans. They descend from Donnchad mac Cellacháin, King of Munster.
- The Ó Donnchadha of Desmond, from the Eóganacht Raithlind, related to the O’Mahonys, prominent in County Kerry and referred to as “O’Donoghue Mór.” They descend from Donnchadh mac Domhnall.
- The Ó Donnchadha of Osraige, from the Clann Conla, related to the Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty (“the Fitzpatricks”) and produced some kings of Osraige, prominent in County Kilkenny and commonly anglicised as Dunphy. They descend from Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic.
- The Ó Donnchadha of Uí Maine, from the Uí Maine, related to the O’Kellys, prominent in County Galway and County Roscommon.
Other references
https://www.libraryireland.com/names/od/o-donnchadha.php
https://www.johngrenham.com/surnamescode/surnamehistory.php?surname=O%27Donoghue&search_type=full#:~:text=(O’)Donoghue%2C%20with%20its,brown%2Dcomplexioned)%20man%22.