O'Donovan/Donovan

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara Walsh on August 18, 2009 at 1:31pm

Janelle - Have lots of Donovans from southwest Co Cork in my family tree, but they're just a little farther south than Dunmanway - they're from Skibbereen area.
Barbara in St. Louis, Missouri

Permalink Reply by Janelle Rundle Donovan on August 18, 2009 at 3:54pm

Is your family in Ireland Donovan's or O'Donovan's? Somehow it got thought up that the "O" was dropped when he arrived because the Irish were so unwelcome but I think Donovan sounds just as Irish with or without the "O". Do you have a Rikard in your family? We (four of us searching) can not find anything on this family line in Ireland. We are pulling out our hair!!

Permalink Reply by Catherine Cord Humphreys on November 6, 2009 at 2:46pm

On the subject of O'Donovan and Donovan that is a family name of ours, the folks tell me they are one of the same, and per my Uncle John O'Donovan and his brother Joe Donovan you would not call Joe and O'Donovan because it just would not sound right. My grandfather when he came to the US said he dropped the O in the ocean in 1914. His family here in the US are all Donovan's.

I have been pulling my hair out on this name and that of O'Meara and Meara. My members are in the town of Toomevara, County Tipperary.

Anyone have family from that town? Please get in touch with me.

Thanks
Katie

Permalink Reply by helen lamb on January 3, 2011 at 6:21am

Hello

I'm researching my O'Donovan grand parents and believe that my great grandfather, Jeremiah Barry O'Donovan, born 1866, was from Madranna, near Leap, Co Cork. Don't know when he moved to Liverpool, but he married a girl- Mary Marshall Kieran from Dublin area. I'm struggling to find proper evidence for Madranna family ancestors and this is key to my understanding. Family stories tell of the boys in the family being v active members of the Gaelic athletic club in Cork area. I can see that there were so many O'Donovans around there... and they all have similar/same first names.. Can anyone shed any light.. or suggest fruitful resources please... as the Irish records seem v patchy and as you say, the O' is often omitted.

many thanks

Helen Lamb