Stay informed about O'DOWD Family online & offline events!

See one of our recent Ireland101 Tribe Gatherings

MEET
LEARN
SHOP

O'DOWD Family History

Recorded in several spelling forms including O'Dowd, Dowd, Dood, Doody, Dowda and Duddy, this ancient name is Irish. It derives from the pre 10th century Gaelic O' Dubhda. The prefix "O" indicates "male descendant of", plus the personal name Dubhda. This is from the word "dubh" meaning black, and probably referred to a chief with particularly dark hair or complexion. The sept claim descent from Fiacha, the brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 4th century king of Ireland. For many centuries the O' Dowds were the leading sept in the ancient territory of Ui Fiachrach. This comprises the modern counties of Mayo, Sligo and parts of South Galway...

Who have we missed?

Tell us about any famous O'DOWD (or surname variant) you think we should add here. We will get our genealogists to check them out and add them to the list. Thanks!

MEET

Join the conversation with the O'DOWD tribe

Find your O'DOWD ancestor
Tell us about your O'DOWD Family
Tell us about your O'DOWD ancestors
Ask a question about the O'DOWD history
Leave a message for O'DOWD family members

O'Dowd

John O'Dowd Search Good morning, I am looking for information on my great, great, grand, parents who hailed from County Clare in Ireland. I only have scant information from their ‘immigration’ papers when landing in Sydney, Australia on the 24 June 1841 having left from Plymouth on the 9th March 1841 aboard the Earl Grey. John O’Dowd is described as being 30 years old at the date of departure, a “R C”, a labourer, cannot read nor write,and “cannot speak English”. It is interesting to note that the O in O’Dowd had been crossed through apparently by the immigration official. Family folk-law suggests that the O was lost in the Bush during the Tenterfield ‘gold rush’in 1876. The truth seems to lie with the stroke of the Immigration Offici