Surname O'Dowd - Meaning and Origin
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O'Dowd: What does the surname O'Dowd mean?
The last name O'Dowd is an anglicized version of the Gaelic/Irish name Ó Dubhda, a name derived from the Irish word "dubhda" which means dark haired one. The O'Dowd family is a sept of the Ui Fiachrach who were established in the Connacht province of Ireland in the 13th century.
The family name O'Dowd is found mainly in the counties of Mayo and Sligo. In modern times, bearers of the name are scattered around the world. It is likely that the majority are descended from original O'Dowd families from the village of Dowdstown which was located near Tulsk in County Roscommon, Ireland.
Many O'Dowd descendants have achieved great success and recognition throughout the world. Examples include Irish politician Brendan O'Dowd; Disney choreographer Pasquel O'Dowd; and John Francis O'Dowd, the Canadian-born American NHL Hall of Famer.
The O'Dowd name reflects the proud Irish heritage and history of the family of which they are a part. The family name has extended to many countries throughout the world, but their place of origin, County Mayo is always viewed by them with pride, sentimentality, and a sense of identity.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Dowd: Where does the name O'Dowd come from?
The last name O'Dowd is most commonly found in Ireland. It is an ancient Gaelic surname derived from the Irish name Ó Dubhda. In English, O'Dowd translates to "descendant of Dubhda," with Dubhda coming from the ancient Irish word for "dark," or "black."
O'Dowd is among the 100 most common Irish surnames, often coming up as the 41st most common. In the United States, the last name is seen in a few different areas; the most common states with O'Dowd citizens are Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is associated with the Greater London area, specifically Streatham, London. Between 1881 and 1920, the last name was among the twenty most common surnames in the Greater London area.
It's speculated that the Irish O'Dowds are descended from the Uí Dubhda, an ancient Irish clan, whose name is derived from the original Irish language. The ancient Uí Dubhda clan resided Clare and Galway, two large counties in western Ireland. It's believed that the O'Dowd clan originated from these two counties.
Today, there are more than 2,000 people across the world who have this ancient Irish last name, with many of them now living in Ireland, the UK, the United States, Australia, or New Zealand.
Variations of the surname O'Dowd
The surname O'Dowd, with variants such as O'Dowda, O'Dubhda, O'Doudda, and O'Douda, originated from the Gaelic name O'Dubhda and originated in what is now County Clare in Ireland.
Variations of this surname include O’Doherty, O'Dughdha, O'Dubhda, O’Dahdah and Duffey. All of these variants are common variations spawned from the original Gaelic O'Dubhda.
The O'Dubhda clan first appeared in County Clare in the 13th century during the Norman invasion. They were alliances of Irish clans who were given tangible deniability of lands and rights to rule. By 1600, a local branch of the O'Dubhda clan had grown and established a strong presence in the region.
The O'Dowd variants of the name are associated today primarily in Counties Clare and Galway of Ireland. The majority of O'Dowda, O'Dubhda, O'Doudda and O'Douda individuals are now concentrated in both of those counties.
They remained there for a centuries, but due to the economic and religious pressures of the 18th and 19th centuries, many of them emigrated to the United States and Canada, and some to Australia. Approximately 31,000 individuals with O'Dowda, O'Dubhda, O'Doudda and O'Douda surnames now live in the US and Canada.
Despite living in different parts of the world, the descendants of the O'Dowd family are linked by common ancestry and history. They share a common bond of pride in their Gaelic roots and a common surname.
Famous people with the name O'Dowd
- Chris O'Dowd: Actor, Writer, and Producer from Ireland.
- Rosie O'Donnell: Emmy Award-Winning Comedian and Talk Show Host.
- Fr. Seamus O'Dowd: Roman Catholic Priest and Primate of All Ireland.
- Niall O'Dowd: Irish-American Publisher and Activist for the Irish-American Community.
- Siobhan O'Dowd: Irish Politician and Former Minister for Health.
- Brendan O'Dowd: American Politician who served as the Minority Leader of the California State Senate.
- Dara O'Dowd: Irish Catholic Bishop.
- Denis O'Dowd: Irish-American Actor and Writer from the Silent Film Era.
- John O'Dowd: Member of the Legislative Assembly for Upper Bann (Northern Ireland).
- Nigel O'Dowd: British Politician and Member of Parliament for North Down.