McDonough

McDonough is an Irish surname.

McDonough
Language(s)Irish
Origin
MeaningBrown Warrior
Region of originIreland
Other names
Variant form(s)MacDonough, McDonnough, MacDonogh, McDonogh, MacDonagh, McDonagh, McDonaugh, McDonnaugh, McDunnough

Origins and variants

The surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Donnchadha", which means son of Donnchadh or son of Donough. The name itself consists of elements meaning "brown (donn)" or Donn “the dark one”, plus "battle (chatha)".

Originally, two separate clans existed in Ireland, the first in Connacht, and these MacDonnchadha's were a branch of the MacDermots, the 8th Century Kings of Connacht.

The second clan in Munster, whose chiefs held the Castle of Kanturk in County Cork, and who were known as the bards of Duhallow, were a branch of the MacCarthys going by McDonough. The name is now rare in Cork, with some of the original name holders, it is believed, changing their name to MacCarthy, although some with the original name still remain in Munster.[1][2]

One explanation for the many spelling variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname McDonough were found in the many archives researched including MacDonough, McDonogh, and many more.

Notable people with the surname

Given name

Fictional characters

References

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