{{other uses}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} '''Cavanagh''' or '''Cavanaugh''' is a surname of Irish origin, a variation of the Irish family surname Caomhánach. {{Infobox name | name = Cavanagh | pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|v|ə|n|ɑː}} {{respell|KAV|ə|nah}} | meaning = A variation of the Irish family surname Caomhánach. | motto = Peace and Plenty | variant = Caomhánach, Kavanagh, Kavanaugh, Cavanaugh, and more. }}
==Surname origin== {{Main|Caomhánach}} Cavanagh and its variations are anglicisations of the Irish surname Caomhánach ({{lang|ga|Caoṁánaċ}} in traditional Gaelic type).<ref name=family>{{cite web |url=http://www.kavanaghfamily.com/clan/clanintro.htm |title=What is Clann Chaomhánach |accessdate=19 December 2007 |author=Clann Chaomhánach |archive-date=5 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905145722/http://www.kavanaghfamily.com/clan/clanintro.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> The surname was first assumed by Domhnall, eldest son of the 12th century King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada in Ireland.<ref>''Irish Pedigrees: Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation'' by John O'Hart – Published 1892, Volume 1, Page 493</ref>
A considerable number of anglicised variations of Caomhánach exist, with some of the most common being: "Kavanagh", "Cavanagh", "Kavanaugh" and "Cavanaugh".<ref name=variations>{{cite web |url=http://www.kavanaghfamily.com/articles/2002/gjim20020128.htm |title=Interpreting the Irish Name "Caomhánach" |accessdate=4 March 2013 |author=James J. Kavanagh – Clann Genealogist |archive-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517094912/http://www.kavanaghfamily.com/articles/2002/gjim20020128.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Spelling variations== Clann Chaomhánach/Cavanagh covers the following known variations of the family name: Kavanagh, Kavanaugh, Kavanah, Kavenah, Kabana, Kavaner, Kavenaugh, Kavanacht, Kaveny, Kevane, Cavanaugh, Cavanah, Cavenah, Cavana, Cavana, Cavner, Cavenaugh, Cavender, Cavenogh, Cavnar, Cavignac, Cavanaogh, Cavanogh, Cabanah, Chaomhana, Cowand and many others...<ref name="variations" /><ref name="family" />
==Cavanagh== ''List of people with the surname Cavanagh:'' * Clare Cavanagh, American literary critic * {{anbl|Colette Cavanagh}} * Daniel Cavanagh (born 1972), Jamie Cavanagh, and Vincent Cavanagh (born 1973), brothers in the band Anathema * Daniel Cavanagh (bishop), Bishop of Leighlin * Daniel Cavanagh (politician), American politician * David Cavanagh (died 2018), Irish writer * Dawn Cavanagh, South African women's rights activist * Dean Cavanagh, journalist, author and screenwriter * Diego Cavanagh (1905–1977), Argentinian Polo Player and Olympic Gold Medalist * Frank Cavanagh, former bass player for Filter * Hollie Cavanagh (born 1993), British singer based in the United States * James Cavanagh (disambiguation), various people * Jerome Cavanagh (1928–1979), American politician from Detroit, Michigan * John Cavanagh (disambiguation), various people * Kate Cavanagh (1951–2008), Scottish social worker * Katy Cavanagh (born 1973), English actress * Kit Cavanagh (died 1739), male impersonator who fought as a soldier in the 1690s * Lucy Mary Cavanagh (1871–1936), American botanist * Mary Cavanagh, American politician * Megan Cavanagh (actress) (born 1960), American actress * Michael Cavanagh (architect), Australian architect * Michael Cavanagh (judge), American judge from Michigan * Orfeur Cavenagh, Governor of the Straits Settlements in Singapore * Patrick Cavanagh (died 1581), Irish Catholic martyr * Paul Cavanagh (1888–1964), English film actor * Peter Cavanagh (born 1981), English footballer * Roberto Cavanagh (1914–2002), Argentinian polo player * Sean Cavanagh (born 1983), Irish Gaelic footballer * Terry Cavanagh (politician), Canadian politician * Terry Cavanagh (developer), Irish video game designer * Tim Cavanagh, comedy songwriter * Tom Cavanagh (born 1963), Canadian actor * Tomás Cavanagh (born 2001), Argentine footballer
==Cavanaugh== ''List of people with the surname Cavanaugh:'' <!-- DO NOT ADD ANY ITEM TO THIS LIST UNLESS THE SUBJECT HAS AN ARTICLE ON WIKIPEDIA --> * Carey Cavanaugh, former United States ambassador * Christine Cavanaugh (1963–2014), American voice actor * Colleen Cavanaugh, microbiologist and Edward C. Jeffrey Professor of Biology at Harvard University. * Dan Cavanaugh, a retired American professional ice hockey player. * Dave Cavanaugh (1919–1981), American composer and musician * Dennis M. Cavanaugh, a United States District Judge in the District Court of New Jersey. * Frank Cavanaugh (American football) * Hobart Cavanaugh (1886–1950), an American character actor in films and on stage. * James M. Cavanaugh (1823–1879), representative for Minnesota and delegate from the Territory of Montana * Jay Cavanaugh (1949–2005), marijuana activist * Jillian Cavanaugh, American anthropologist and academic administrator * John Cavanaugh (baseball) (1900–1961), MLB player * John Cavanaugh (sculptor) (1921–1985) * John J. Cavanaugh, Roman Catholic priest and former president of the University of Notre Dame * John J. Cavanaugh Jr. (born 1980), politician from Nebraska * John Joseph Cavanaugh III (born 1945), politician from Nebraska * John R. Cavanaugh (1929–2007), American priest and scholar, retired faculty member of St. John Fisher College * Linda Cavanaugh, an award-winning newscaster for NBC affiliate KFOR-TV (channel 4), in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. * Machaela Cavanaugh, politician from Nebraska * Matt Cavanaugh, former American football quarterback in the NFL who played from 1979 to 1991 * Michael Cavanaugh, an actor, musician and singer. * Michael Cavanaugh, American TV and film actor, notable for ''24'' * Page Cavanaugh (1922–2008), American jazz and pop pianist, vocalist, and arranger * Patrick Cavanaugh, American television actor * Thomas Cavanaugh, American Medal of Honor recipient * Tim Cavanaugh, American journalist and blogger, web editor of the ''Los Angeles Times'' opinion page * Twinkle Cavanaugh, politician from Alabama
==Fictional characters== * Liam and Leanna Cavanagh, characters from ''Emmerdale'', a British soap opera. * Jordan Cavanaugh, character from ''Crossing Jordan'', an American television drama. * Toby Cavanaugh, character from ''Pretty Little Liars,'' an American television drama. * Alicia Florrick (née Cavanaugh), character from ''The Good Wife'', an American television drama. * Miles Cavanaugh, character from ''The Edge of Night'', an American television soap opera. * Sally Ann Cavanaugh, character from ''Fletch'', an American comedy film. * Johnny Cavanagh, character in the story ''The Shepherd'', by Frederick Forsyth. * The title characters from ''The Cavanaughs'', an American television sitcom. * James Kavanagh, the main character in ''Kavanagh QC'', a British television drama. * Detective Cavanaugh, a side character in ''iZombie'', played by Robert Salvador
==See also== * Caomhánach, about the family origins * Kavanagh (surname) * Kings of Leinster * Uí Ceinnselaig
==References== {{reflist}}
{{surname}}
Category:Surnames of Irish origin