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Irish surname

O'Donegan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Donnagáin · 'descendant of Donnagán' (diminutive of donn, brown)

Woulfe (1923) gives Donegan as an anglicised form of Ó Donnagáin, 'descendant of Donnagán' (a diminutive of donn, brown), naming several families: the O'Donegans of Tipperary and Limerick, chiefs of Ara and of Ui Cuanach (now Coonagh), 'frequently mentioned in the Annals during the 11th and 12th century'; the O'Donegans of Cork, chiefs of Muscraighe-tri-maighe (now the barony of Orrery); and 'three distinct families of O'Donegans in Ulster'. He separately records Ó hOnchon, a now very rare Carlow family, printing '(Donegan)' in brackets among its anglicised forms. In 1890, 31 Donegan birth entries including spelling varieties were recorded in Ireland (23 spelled Donegan), on the Matheson births page headed bare 'Donegan'; it names no principal counties. This hub is kept distinct from the Donnelly, Dunne and O'Donnell hubs on this site.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Donegan surname
Irish formÓ Donnagáin
Meaning'descendant of Donnagán' (diminutive of donn, brown)
CountiesTipperary, Limerick, Cork, Carlow
Other spellings13
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O'Donegan crest gifts

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Origin of the O'Donegan name

Woulfe: Ó Donnagáin names several families — the Tipperary/Limerick O'Donegans, chiefs of Ara (now the barony of Ara or Duhara) and of Ui Cuanach (now the barony of Coonagh, Co. Limerick); the Cork O'Donegans, chiefs of Muscraighe-tri-maighe (now the barony of Orrery), whose patrimony 'was granted by King John to William de Barry'; 'three distinct families of O'Donegans in Ulster'; and O'Donegans 'numerous at the end of the 16th century in the midlands and in North Connacht'.[1]

  1. 1013Four Masters: Ruaidhri Ua Donnagain, lord of Aradh, falls in a battle between Brian's sons.[5]
  2. 1031Four Masters: Ua Donnagain, lord of Aradh-tire, slain by O'Briain, i.e. Toirdhealbhach.[6]
  3. 1043Four Masters: Echthighern Ua Donnagain, lord of Aradh, is slain near the Siuir.[7]
  4. 1094Four Masters: Ruaidhri Ua Donnagain, lord of Aradh, dies.[8]
  5. 1122Four Masters: Maelseachlainn Ua Donnagain, lord of Aradh-thire, dies.[9]
  6. 189031 Donegan entries including spelling varieties recorded in Ireland (23 spelled Donegan).[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. TipperaryChiefs of Ara (barony of Ara/Duhara), frequently named in the Annals, 11th–12th century (Woulfe).[1]
Co. LimerickChiefs of Ui Cuanach, now the barony of Coonagh (Woulfe).[1]
Co. CorkChiefs of Muscraighe-tri-maighe (Orrery barony); their lands granted to William de Barry (Woulfe).[1]
Co. CarlowWoulfe's separate Ó hOnchon, seated near Tullow before the Anglo-Norman invasion, gives '(Donegan)' in brackets.[2]

Other spellings

O Donegaine · O Dunegaine · O Dongane · Donnegan · Dunnegan · Dongan · Dunigan · Duncan · Dinnegan · Domegan · Donagan · Dumegan · Dunnigan[1]

The O'Donegan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Donegan 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.

O'Donegan surname: questions

What does the surname O'Donegan mean?

Woulfe gives Donegan as an anglicised form of Ó Donnagáin, 'descendant of Donnagán', a diminutive of donn, meaning brown.[1]

Where does the O'Donegan name come from?

Woulfe names O'Donegan families who were chiefs of Ara and of Ui Cuanach in Tipperary/Limerick, chiefs of Muscraighe-tri-maighe in Cork, and early families in Ulster; he separately records a now-rare Carlow family, Ó hOnchon, also anglicised Donegan.[1][2]

Is O'Donegan the same name as Donnelly, Dunne or O'Donnell?

No. Woulfe gives Donegan under its own headword, Ó Donnagáin. Donnelly (Ó Donnghaile), Dunne (Ó Duinn) and O'Donnell (Ó Domhnaill) are different names, each with its own hub on this site.[1]

Is O'Donegan the same name as Donegan?

Yes. Woulfe's printed forms for Ó Donnagáin include 'O Donegan' and 'Donegan', and his text calls the family 'the O'Donegans'. Matheson's 1890 births index is headed bare 'Donegan': 31 entries including spelling varieties (23 spelled Donegan), with no principal counties named.[1][3]

Sources

  1. Ó Donnagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-donnagain.php
  2. Ó hOnchon — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-honchon.php
  3. Donegan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/donegan.php
  4. Donegan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), list no. 483, transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/483.php
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), M1013 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text012.html
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), M1031 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text013.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), M1043 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text015.html
  8. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), M1094 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text020.html
  9. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), M1122 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text022.html

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