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Irish surname

McDonagh: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Donnchadha · 'son of Donnchadh' (brown warrior, or strong warrior)

Woulfe (1923) gives MacDonagh as an anglicised form of Mac Donnchadha, 'son of Donnchadh', and names at least three distinct families of the name: a MacCarthy branch in Duhallow, Co. Cork, a MacDermott branch in Co. Sligo, and a Scottish clan in Perthshire. In 1890 the name was registered chiefly in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.

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Coat of arms associated with the McDonagh surname
Irish formMac Donnchadha
Meaning'son of Donnchadh' (brown warrior, or strong warrior)
CountiesGalway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo
Other spellings6

Origin of the McDonagh name

Woulfe lists three families: (1) a branch of the MacCarthys, chiefs of Duhallow, Co. Cork, seated at Kanturk; (2) a branch of the MacDermotts of Moylurg, chiefs of Tirerrill and Corran, Co. Sligo, residing at Ballymote, with an offshoot in Co. Clare and thence Co. Limerick; (3) a Scottish clan in Perthshire.[1]

  1. 1878Thomas MacDonagh born in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary.[3]
  2. 1890174 McDonagh births (incl. spelling variants), chiefly Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.[4]
  3. 1916Thomas MacDonagh, a Proclamation signatory, executed in Kilmainham Jail, 3 May.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. GalwayFirst county named for McDonagh births in 1890; Connaught had 141 of the 174 entries.[4]
Co. RoscommonAmong the counties where the name was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. MayoAmong the counties where the name was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. SligoMacDermott-branch family, chiefs of Tirerrill and Corran, resided at Ballymote.[1]
Co. CorkMacCarthy-branch family, chiefs of Duhallow, with their principal seat at Kanturk.[1]

Notable people named McDonagh

Thomas MacDonagh1878–1916Poet, UCD English lecturer, signatory of the 1916 Proclamation; in charge at Jacob's biscuit factory in the Rising; executed.[3]

Other spellings

MacDonagh · MacDonogh · MacDonough · MacDonnagh · MacDona · MacConnaghy[1]

Scottish connection

Woulfe's third Mac Donnchadha family is 'a Scottish clan in Perthshire, said to be a branch of the MacDonalds'. In his words: 'This family now anglicised their name Duncan, and some of them call themselves Robertson.'[1]

The McDonagh coat of arms

The name appears as 'MAC DONOUGH' in the 'List of Names of Irish Septs as given in the Book of Arms, compiled by Sir James Terry, Athlone Herald (1690)', as printed by Matheson. The list gives sept names only; it does not describe any arms, and it does not mean that everyone named McDonagh is entitled to a coat of arms.[5]

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McDonagh surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

McDonagh crest gifts

Clan Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ZA60 Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapPL51 Classic Cap - Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mcdonagh Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McDonagh surname: questions

What does the surname McDonagh mean?

Woulfe gives it as Mac Donnchadha, 'son of Donnchadh', an ancient and very common Irish personal name meaning brown warrior, or strong warrior, anglicised Donough or Denis.[1]

Where in Ireland is the McDonagh name from?

Woulfe places one family in Duhallow, Co. Cork (seat at Kanturk) and another in Tirerrill and Corran, Co. Sligo (at Ballymote). In 1890 most McDonagh births were in Connaught, chiefly Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.[1][4]

Is McDonagh Irish or Scottish?

Woulfe names three families called Mac Donnchadha. Two are Irish, in Co. Cork (Duhallow) and Co. Sligo (Tirerrill and Corran). The third is 'a Scottish clan in Perthshire, said to be a branch of the MacDonalds', of which he writes: 'This family now anglicised their name Duncan, and some of them call themselves Robertson.'[1]

Are McDonagh and MacDonough the same name?

Woulfe lists MacDonagh, MacDonogh, MacDonough, MacDonnagh and MacDona among the anglicised forms of Mac Donnchadha.[1]

Sources

  1. Mac Donnchadha — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macd/mac-donnchadha-mac-donnchaidh.php
  2. Mac Dhonnchadha — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macd/mac-dhonnchadha-mac-dhonnchaidh.php
  3. Thomas MacDonagh — The Seven Signatories of the Proclamation (1916 exhibition), National Library of Ireland. nli.ie/1916/exhibition/en/content/sevensignatories/thomasmacdonagh
  4. McDonagh — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcdonagh.php
  5. List of Names of Irish Septs (Terry, 1690) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/irish-septs.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).