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). The surname was first assumed by Domhnall Caomhánach (the eldest son of the 12th century King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada) in Ireland. A considerable number of anglicised variations of Caomhánach exist, with some of the most common being: "Kavanagh", "Cavanagh", "Kavanaugh" and "Cavanaugh".
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.
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
