McDonagh Surname Meaning & Origin
What the McDonagh last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the McDonagh last name
Meaning of the McDonagh last name: son of Donnchadh ("brown warrior"). McDonagh comes from Mac Donnchadha, "son of Donnchadh", a personal name meaning "brown warrior" or "strong warrior". The main family were a branch of the MacDermots of Moylurg, lords of Tirerrill and Corran in County Sligo, with their seat at Ballymote. A separate family lived in Duhallow in north Cork. The name is now most common in Galway, Mayo and Sligo, while the spelling McDonough is frequent in America. The Sligo McDonaghs took their name from Donnchadh, a 13th-century member of the MacDermot family, and they held Ballymote Castle in the 16th century. The Book of Ballymote, a great medieval manuscript of Irish history and genealogy, was written in 1390–91, partly in the house of Tomaltach Mac Donnchadha at Ballymote, probably for him as patron. The Duhallow McDonaghs were a branch of the MacCarthys. Many McDonaghs emigrated to England and the United States in the 19th century.
Our historical archives hold much more on the McDonagh name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the McDonagh name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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McDonagh name FAQ
What does the McDonagh name mean?
Son of Donnchadh ("brown warrior"). Common variants include McDonough, MacDonagh, Donogh.
Where does the McDonagh surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a McDonagh coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single McDonagh crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized McDonagh coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).