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O'Dea

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O'Dea /oʊˈdiː/; (Irish: Ó Deághaidh, formerly Ua Deághaidh), is an Irish surname derived from Deághaidh, the name of a tenth-century clan chieftain.

Contents

O'Dea Clan Origins

The O'Dea clan came originally from County Clare where there is a fortified tower house over 500 years old known as O'Dea Castle at the 80-acre (320,000 m2) townland of Dysert O'Dea (Irish: Dísert, meaning "hermitage"). The ruins of Dysert O'Dea Monastery, round tower, and St. Tola's high cross are 265 metres to the south-southwest of the castle in the adjacent 260-acre (1.1 km2) townland of Mollaneen (Irish: Molainín, meaning "the little hill"), near Corofin. (52.911361°N 9.066381°W / 52.911361; -9.066381)this surname is popular with many Irish families.

The name O'Dea is normally pronounced oh-dee, and sometimes oh-day, in English. Clan descendants may have the surnames Alday, Allday, O'Dea, Dea, Day, Daye, O'Day, O'Daye, Dee, Dees, O'Dee, Godwin, or Goodwin.

Edward MacLysaght, the former Chief Herald of Ireland, writing in his book, Irish Families, began his discussion of the O'Dea family as follows:

In another book, The Surnames of Ireland, MacLysaght describes the O'Deas as "one of the principal Dalcassian septs", and about the name itself, he remarks, "The prefix O is now almost always used, but a century ago Dea was quite usual and the English Day was regarded as synonymous."

Ancestry

The O'Deas, together with the O'Quinns (Irish: Ó Cuinn), belong to the Uí Fearmaic group, but it is not known if this kindred belongs to the Dál gCais or to the Uí Fidgenti. Another possibility are the Corcu Baiscind.

O'Deas

  • Brian O'Dea – Cannabis smuggler; television and film producer; author.
  • Chris O'Dea – American documentary filmmaker.
  • Cornelius (Connor) O'Dea. Bishop of Limerick. (Appointed 1400; resigned 1426).
  • Darren O'Dea – Irish footballer.
  • Denis O'Dea – Actor and father of Donnacha, below.
  • Donnacha O'Dea – Olympic swimmer and professional poker player.
  • Edward John O'Dea (1856–1932). Bishop of dioceses Nesqually and Seattle.
  • Fabian O'Dea – Former Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Canada.
  • Jimmy O'Dea – Actor, comedian.
  • Judith O'Dea – Hollywood actress.
  • Kevin O'Dea – American football coach.
  • Louis O'Dea – Irish politician elected to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann between 1923 and 1944.
  • Luke O'Dea – Irish rugby player.
  • Marcus O'Day – Physicist with crater named after him on the moon.
  • Michael O'Dea – Irish Senator from 1922 to 1925.
  • Oliver O'Dea – Irish boxer.
  • Pat O'Dea – Australian and American football player and coach.
  • Paul O'Dea – American professional basketball player.
  • Thomas O'Dea (1858–1923). Bishop of Clonfert, Galway, and Kilmacduagh.
  • Willie O'Dea – Irish politician.

    • See also the O'Day page for a listing of O'Days.

    References

    O'Dea Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA