The Clan/Sept History

All Irish surnames have underlying meanings that can be traced back to their
fullest points when the names first appeared in a Gaelic form. The name
MacDonogh originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Donnchadha, which means son of
Donnchadh or son of Donagh.

Because the general population during the Middle Ages was illiterate, exact
spellings for people's name did not exist. It was up to the literate scribe that
was recording a person's name to decide how to spell his name. Names, therefore,
often had many spelling variations. The variations of the name MacDonogh
include: Donaghey, McDonogh, McDonnogh, McDonagh and many more.
First found in county Cork, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct
result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of
these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those
who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the
United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed
in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous
passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy
development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke
and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced
products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger
lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name MacDonogh or
one of its variants: James Donaghy who settled in New England in 1805; John (six
of this name) arrived in Philadelphia between 1811 and 1867; Alexander Donaghy
settled in New York in 1804.

Motto Translated: Glory is the reward of valour.