Ó Dubhda

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó DUBHDA—I—O Dowda, O Douda, O Dooda, O Dowdy, O Duda, O Doddie, O'Dowd, O'Doud, Dowda, Dowdie, Doody, Duddy, Doud, Dowd, &c.; 'descendant of Dubhda' (black); the name (1) of a Connacht family, and (2) of an Ulster family. The first of these derive their descent from the celebrated King Dathi and were the head family of the northern Ui Fiachrach. Before the irruption of the English into Connacht in 1237, they were the ruling family in all Lower Connacht, including the greater part of the present counties of Mayo and Sligo. And their power was great on sea as well as on land. (See Annals, A.D. 1154.) In the 14th century they had in immediate succession three able chieftains who drove the English out of their territory, but they were never able to regain the position of power and dignity which the family enjoyed before the English settlement in Connacht. The O'Dowd lands were confiscated after the Cromwellian and Jacobite wars. Branches of the family had settled in Munster before the end of the 16th century, where they now anglicise the name Doody. The Ulster family, which is a branch of the Cinel Eoghain, is still numerous in Derry and other parts of that province.

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