Surname Doheny - Meaning and Origin

Doheny: What does the surname Doheny mean?

The surname Doheny is of Irish origin and translates to "unfortunate" or "sorrowful" from Gaelic. The name initially emerged in the county of Clare in the western part of Ireland, where the family held significant estates. Despite its rather melancholy meaning, the Doheny family in Ireland has a rich history, including instances of members being involved in politics and other significant roles in society. Over time, the Doheny surname has dispersed and can be found in many English-speaking countries worldwide.

Doheny: Where does the name Doheny come from?

The surname Doheny is of Irish origin, derived from Gaelic name "O Dubhchain". The name translates to "descendant of Dubhchán", with "Dubh" meaning black and "chán" being a diminutive suffix. This means the original bearers of the name likely had a dark-haired or dark-complexioned ancestor.

Although the name has spread throughout the world due to migration, it still remains most common in its country of origin, Ireland. In Ireland, the name is particularly associated with County Tipperary, with records showing Dohenys living there since the Middle Ages. Elsewhere in the world, Doheny is a relatively uncommon surname. In the United States, for example, it is not among the top surnames.

Famous people with the name Doheny include Edward L. Doheny, an American oil tycoon in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Peter Doheny, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration of the United Kingdom. Despite its relative rarity, the name has left its mark on several landmarks, such as Doheny State Beach in California and Doheny Library at the University of Southern California, both named after Edward L. Doheny.

Variations of the surname Doheny

The surname Doheny is Irish in origin and is a form of the Gaelic name Ó Duacháin, derived from "Dubh", meaning "dark", and "án", a term of endearment. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Doheny include Dooheny, Duheny, Dougheny, and Doheney.

Many surnames are variants of Doheny because of the unique phonetic spelling customs in tradition-rich Ireland. During the lifetime of an individual named Doheny, his surname could have been recorded as Dooheny in one document and Doheney in another. Irregular census, church registers and immigration records sometimes show surnames with incorrect spellings. The Gaelic versions of the names also have several variant forms, such as O'Dubhchain, O'Dughain, and O'Dochain. These surnames are usually found in the Leinster counties of Kildare and Laois.

It's crucial to remember that the spelling of surnames may change over time, especially when dealing with Irish surnames as they've been anglicized. For example, the surname O'Duacháin might have been transformed into Doheny, Duheny or Dooheny over generations.

Famous people with the name Doheny

• Edward L. Doheny: An American oil tycoon who, in 1892, drilled the first successful oil well in the Los Angeles City Oil Field. His success set off a petroleum boom in Southern California.
• Estelle Doheny: Wife of Edward L. Doheny, who was one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time. She was a noted book collector with one of the largest collections of the Bible.
• Edward Laurence Doheny Jr.: The only son of the oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, he was the vice president of his father's petroleum company and later murdered in his Beverly Hills home.
• Lucy Doheny Battson: Daughter of Edward and Estelle Doheny, who inherited much of the two's fortune and estate.
• Timothy Doheny: A notable descendant of Edward L. Doheny, he is an investor involved in various businesses.
• Ned Doheny: An American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Los Angeles who was part of the Southern California singer-songwriter scene of the 1970s. His is the great-grandson of oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny.

Other surnames

Doheney