Donahue History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The many Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name Donahue originally appeared in Gaelic as O Donnchadha, which means son of Donnchadh or son of Donagh. 

Early Origins of the Donahue family

The surname Donahue was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond(14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Donahue family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donahue research.

Donahue Spelling Variations

Lacking standardized spellings, scribes and church officials recorded people’s name according to how they sounded. This practice often led to the misleading result of one person’s name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Donahue are preserved in the archival documents of the period. The various spellings of the name that were found include Donoghue, Donaghoe, Donaho, Donahoe, Donough, Donahue, Donahow, Doneghoe, Donehue, Donighue, Donohoe,Donahugh, Donohough, Donohow, Donohue, Donaughue, O’Donoghue, Dunphy, Donaghie, Donaghy and many more.

Donahue Ranking

In the United States, the name Donahue is the 1,108^thmost popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. [1]

 Donahue migration to the United States +

Many Irish families boarded ships bound for North America in the middle of 19th century to escape the conditions of poverty and racial discrimination at that time. Although these immigrants often arrived in a destitute state, they went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. An inquiry into many immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants to North America bearing the Donahue family name: 

Donahue Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Philip Donahue, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [2]

Donahue Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Robert Donahue, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1837 [2]
• William Donahue, who arrived in Indiana in 1852 [2]
• Patrick Donahue, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 [2]
• Bridt Donahue, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1854 [2]
• Pat Donahue, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1854 [2]

 Donahue migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Donahue Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Edmond Donahue, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1821
• John Donahue, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “John & Mary” from Belfast, Ireland

 Donahue migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Donahue Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Margaret Donahue, aged 17, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Elgin” [3]
• Mary Donahue, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Elgin” [3]
• Denis Donahue, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship “Gloucester” [4]
• Mary Donahue, aged 20, a seamstress, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship “Sir Edward Parry” [5]
• Mary Donahue, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Europa” [6]

 Donahue migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Donahue Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Thomas Donahue, (b. 1837), aged 25, Irish farm labourer from County Tipperary, travelling from London aboard the ship “Mersey” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 [7]
• Cornelius Donahue, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Hudson” in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Donahue (post 1700) +

• Phillip John “Phil” Donahue (b. 1935), American media personality, writer, and film producer best known as the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show
• Thomas Reilly Donahue Jr. (1928-2023), American trade union leader, Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1979 to 1995
• Terry Donahue (1925-2019), Canadian utility baseball catcher for the Peoria Redwings of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1946 through 1949
• John F. “Jack” Donahue (1924-2017), American businessman and founder of Federated Investors in 1955
• Jed Donahue (b. 1960), American sports radio announcer
• Troy Donahue (1936-2001), born Merle Johnson, Jr., American actor
• Terry Donahue (b. 1944), American college football coach, inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame (2000)
• Sam Donahue (1918-1974), American saxophonist, best known for his work with Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and others
• Francis Rostell “Red” Donahue (1873-1913), American Major League Baseball player
• Pat Donahue, American baseball player