O'Donovan

:"See Donovan (disambiguation)"

O'Donovan is an Irish surname. The O'Donovan [http://www.genealogytoday.com/surname/finder.mv?Surname=O%20Donovan] pedigree goes back to Callaghan, a 10th-century King of Munster. From his son, Donnabhain, came the family name (donn meaning 'brown' and dubhann meaning 'black').

A noble race in Munster, they were chieftains in Carbery. Their extensive territory followed Limerick's River Maigue. Brugh Riogh ('royal residence') was the explanatory name of their stronghold until the Normans drove them south to Cork, where they acquired more possessions and are still very numerous.

From their association with the Limerick and Waterford branches of the Dublin based Uí Ímair dynasty, the O'Donovans are possibly descended from the Danish Viking Ivar the Boneless, through a daughter of Ivar king of Limerick. See O'Hart (1892) and Todd (1867).

Because of their adherence to the doomed Stuarts they were outlawed and lost their wealth. In France, where they found careers in the army, O'Donovan's Infantry was a regiment to be reckoned with. Because they were aristocrats they suffered sadly during the French Revolution.

Another O'Donovan family of Kilkenny who claimed descent from Eoghan, a 3rd-century King of Munster, produced one of the most celebrated historians, John O'Donovan. He published an Irish Grammar and translated and edited the first complete edition of the Annals of the Four Masters.

Jeremiah O'Donovan, the revered patriot O'Donovan Rossa (red), emigrated to America, driven by his Fenian activities.

The classic short story writer, Frank O'Connor was, in fact, born Michael O'Donovan of Cork city.

The following is a list of notable people with the surname O'Donovan:

* Daniel O'Donovan, hereditary chief, member of 1690 Parliament
* Denis O'Donovan, (born 1955) Irish politician
* Edmund O'Donovan, (1855-1883) war correspondent Sources:http://www.irelandseye.com/irish/traditional/names/family/odonovan.shtm
* Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, (1831-1915) Irish Fenian leader
* John O'Donovan, (1806-1861) Scholar
* John O'Donovan, (died 1982) Irish politician
* Leo J. O'Donovan, (born 1934) President of Georgetown University, U.S.A.
* Michael Francis O'Donovan, (1903-1966) (Frank O'Connor) Irish author
* Oliver O'Donovan, (born 1945) theologian
* Reubin O'Donovan Askew, (born 1928) 37th Governor of Florida, U.S.A.
* Roy O'Donovan, (born 1985) Irish football (soccer) player
* Val O'Donovan, (1936-2005) Cork born Canadian businessman
* William O'Donovan, (1886-1955) U.K. politician
* William Rudolf O'Donovan, (1844-1920) American sculptor

References

* O'Hart, John, "Irish Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation". 1892. 5th edition.
* Todd, James Henthorn, "Cogadh Gaedhel Re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill..." Longmans. 1867.

ee also

* Donovan (name)