Kavanagh (surname)

Kavanagh.

Kavanagh or Kavanaugh is a surname of Irish origin, Caomhánach in Irish Gaelic. It is properly Mac Murchadha Caomhánach (an example of an Irish agnomen; see Ó Catharnaigh Sionnach or Fox of Fir Teathbha), but is often now rendered 'Caomhánach' or rarely 'Ó Caomhánaigh'.

Surname origin and history

"Kavanagh" and "Kavanaugh" are anglicised variations of the Irish Gaelic surname Caomhánach (Cʌoṁʌ̃nʌċ in traditional Gaelic script).^[2] The surname was first assumed by Domhnall Caomhánach (the eldest son of the 12th century King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada) in Ireland.^[3] A considerable number of anglicised variations of Caomhánach exist, with some of the most common being: "Kavanagh", "Cavanagh", "Kavanaugh" and "Cavanaugh".^[1]

The surname was possibly adopted by Síl Fáelchán clansmen in preference to the earlier name MacMurrough, given the prestige associated with the dynamic junior line that seized the chiefship of the Uí Cheinnselaig tribal group in the High Middle Ages.

List of people surnamed Kavanagh or Kavanaugh

• Anthony Kavanagh (born 1969), Canadian Québécois comedian
• Art mac Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh (1357–1417), Irish King of Leinster
• Arthur MacMorrough Kavanagh (1831–1889), Irish politician from County Carlow
• Brad Kavanagh (born 1992), British actor
• Brett Kavanaugh (born 1965), American jurist; judge of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit since 2006
• Brian P. Kavanagh (born 1967), member of the New York State Assembly
• Brian Kavanagh (filmmaker) (born 1935), Australian writer and filmmaker
• Brian Kavanagh, Gaelic football player
• Cahir Mac Art Kavanagh (died 1554), Irish magnate
• Charles Kavanagh (1864–1950), British Army officer
• Chris Kavanagh (born 1964), English rock drummer
• Daryl Kavanagh (born 1986), Irish soccer player
• Dennis Kavanagh (born 1941), British political analyst and professor of politics
• Derek Kavanagh (born 1981), Irish Gaelic football player
• Dermot McMorrough Kavanagh (1890–1958), Crown Equerry of the Royal Household of the UK 1941–55
• Donal Kavanagh (born 1928), Dublin Born, Canadian musician "A Dubliner and His Harmonica"
• Ed Kavanagh (born 1954), Canadian writer and musician
• Edward Kavanagh (1795–1844), American politician from Maine; US representative 1831–35; governor of Maine 1843–44
• Edward J Kavanagh (1888–1960), New Zealand rugby union and cricket player
• Fergus Kavanagh (born 1985), Irish Olympic field hockey player
• Frederick W. Kavanaugh (1871–1940), New York politician
• Gary Kavanagh (contemporary), Irish Gaelic football player
• George W. Kavanagh (1880–1914), New York assemblyman
• Gere Kavanaugh (born 1929), American designer
• Graham Kavanagh (born 1973), Irish soccer player
• James B. Kavanagh (1800–1886), Irish priest
• Herminie Templeton Kavanagh (1861–1933), Irish-American short-story writer
• Jack Kavanagh (politician) (1879–1964), Canadian-Australian communist politician
• Joseph Malachy Kavanagh (1856–1918), Irish painter
• Julia Kavanagh (1824–1877), Irish novelist
• Karen Kavanagh, Canadian physicist
• Ken Kavanagh (born 1923), Australian motorcycle road racer
• Ken Kavanaugh (1916–2007), American football player and coach
• Laurence Kavanagh (1764–1830), Canadian merchant, judge, and politician from Nova Scotia
• Leo Kavanagh (1894–1950), American baseball player
• Liam Kavanagh (born 1935), Irish politician; TD for Wicklow 1969–97; former memboer of the European Parliament
• Linda Kavanagh (c.1957–2003), Irish politician; member of the Dublin City Council
• Martin Kavanagh (1895–1987), Irish-Canadian historian and author
• Marty Kavanagh (1891–1960), American baseball player
• Michael Kavanagh (born 1979), Irish hurler
• Morgan Kavanagh (c. 1799–1874), Irish poet, novelist and author of works on philology
• Niamh Kavanagh (born 1968), Irish pop singer; Eurovision Song Contest winner 1993
• P. J. Kavanagh (1931–2015), English poet and broadcaster
• Paul Kavanagh (disambiguation)
• Pat Kavanagh (agent) (1940–2008), British literary agent
• Pat Kavanagh (ice hockey) (born 1979), Canadian ice hockey player
• Patrick Kavanagh (1904–1967), Irish poet
• Patrick Kavanagh (footballer) (born 1985), Irish soccer player
• Peter Kavanagh (writer) (1916–2006), Irish writer and scholar; brother of the poet Patrick Kavanagh
• Peter Kavanagh (Australian politician) (born 1959), Australian politician from Victoria
• Peter Kavanagh (Irish footballer) (1910–1993), Irish soccer player
• Richie Kavanagh (born 1949), Irish entertainer and singer
• Rory Kavanagh (born 1982), Irish Gaelic football player
• Ryan Kavanaugh (born 1974), American film producer
• Steve Kavanagh (born 1971), Canadian figure skater and ice dancer
• Ted Kavanagh (1892–1958), British radio scriptwriter and producer
• Terry Kavanagh (contemporary), American comic book writer and editor
• Thomas Christian Kavanagh (1912–1978), American civil engineer; founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Thomas G. Kavanagh (1917–1997), American jurist from Michigan; justice of the Michigan Supreme Court 1969–1985
• Thomas Henry Kavanagh (1821–1882), Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross for action during the Indian Mutiny
• Thomas M. Kavanagh (1909–1975), American jurist from Michigan; justice of the Michigan Supreme Court 1958–1975
• Trevor Kavanagh (born 1943), English newspaper journalist and editor
• Walter J. Kavanaugh (1933–2008), American politician from New Jersey; state legislator 1976–2008
• Walter Kavanagh (cricketer) (1814–1836), Irish cricketer
• William M. Kavanaugh (1866–1915), American politician from Arkansas; US senator 1913
• Thomas Kavanagh (1996–present), Famous Geologist, Discovered the "Dint" in October 2015

Fictional characters

• James Kavanagh, subject of British legal drama Kavanagh QC
• Dominic Kavanagh, character on the Irish soap opera Fair City
• Jon Kavanaugh, character from the FX television series The Shield
• Tracy Kavanagh, character on the Irish soap opera Fair City
• Peter Kavanagh, fictional character on Stargate Atlantis
• Katherine 'Kate' Kavanagh, character from the E. L. James novel Fifty Shades of Grey

References