The goal of these surname search blog posts is to help you connect with other researchers interested in these surnames, and to find more information about your ancestors. Use the resources below as a stepping point to find credible sources, and remember: not every “Jane Doe” is your “Jane Doe”! If you have information related to the Kavanagh surname, or would like to reach out to fellow researchers of Kavanagh genealogy, leave a comment. Please do not share any information about those still living to respect privacy.
Kavanagh
Related surnames or alternate spellings: Kavanaugh; Kavenagh; Cavanagh, Cavanaugh; Caomhánach; Chaomhánach
Also: Kavanaw; Cavanna; Cavagnaic; Cavanogh; Kavenagh; Cavinah; Cavanah, and others.
Notable ancestors include:
Art Mac Murrogh Kavanagh, Irish king of Leinster
Edward Kavanagh, Governor of Maine
Joseph Malachy Kavanagh, Irish painter
Julia Kavanagh, Irish author
Lionel B. Kavanagh, plastics pioneer
Patrick Kavanagh, Irish poet and author
Genealogy websites
Descendants of John Kavanagh (Google Sites)
KavanaghFamily.com (Wayback Machine link)
The Kavanaghs of Mangan Farm, Zee Family History
Message boards and posts
“Am researching the Kavanagh family of Graiguemanagh…” Irelandxo.com
“Cavanagh” posts on Ancestry.com
“Cavanaugh” posts on Ancestry.com
“Kavanagh” posts on Ancestry.com Message Boards
“Kavanaugh” posts on Ancestry.com
“Kavanagh” posts on Genealogy.com GenForum Message Boards
“Kavanaugh” posts on GenForum
“Cavanagh” posts on GenForum
“Cavanaugh” posts on GenForum
“Kavanagh/Cavanagh of Leitrim” post on MyIrishAncestry.com
“Kavanagh family in Roundwood?” post on County Wicklow Heritage forum
“Nova Scotia brick wall: Simon Kavanagh 1790-1870” post on FamilySearch Community
“Kavanagh in Tipperary” post on Rootschat
“Kavanagh” posts on Rootschat
“Kavanagh” post on community.ireland.com
Social media groups & societies
“Kavanagh Family" Facebook page
“Kavanaugh Family Genealogy” FamilySearch Community Group
“The Kavenagh and Kavanagh and Cavanagh and Cavanaugh etc group” Facebook group, 2.2.k members
Photographs:
Dudley Kavanagh, 1870. New York Public Library
Francis William Kavanagh World War I Military Portraits
John Kavanagh, poor rate collector for the city of Kelkenny… New York Public Library
“John Kavanagh; Edward Kavanagh…” New York Public Library
Joseph Cyril Kavanagh, ca 1918. World War I Military Portraits
Kavanagh, George, Orchestra Leader, portrait. 1931. Wayne State University Library.
Kavanagh, J.P., ca. 1920s. Utah Dept of Cultural & Community Engagement
Louise M. Kavanagh, 1890. Denver High School senior portrait.
Maude Adella Kavanagh, 1942. East Carolina Teachers College.
Miss Betty Kavanagh, 1932. Hennepin County Library
Peter Kavanagh, UM Medical School Class of 1883. University of Michigan
Virginia Kavanagh, divorce. 1936. Berkeley Library
William Peter Kavanagh, 1893. Denver High School senior portrait.
Website clippings, blog posts, etc (no paywalls)
Herson, John. “The Kavanaghs: an elusive transient family” 20 May 2015. Divergent Paths: Irish Families in Victorian Stafford.
“Kavanagh family genealogy” excerpts from Irish Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892.
“Kavanagh Family of Carrigeen and Graney, County Kildare” 24 July 2016. Ward Family History and Genealogy.
“Kavanagh - Sharkey connection?” 15 Jan, 2018. My Children’s Ancestors.
“Mike Kavanagh’s Grandfather” Michaelfortune.ie
Spring, John. “The Kavanagh Clan - A History” 21 Nov, 2021. Explore Irish Ancestry
“Where Did Kavanaugh Come From?” A Letter from Ireland
Artifacts
Irish Volunteers enlistment form of Patrick J. Kavanagh, 1914, National Museum of Ireland
Personal Record of George Henry Cavanagh, City of Boston Archives
Correspondence and letters
Michael Kavanagh, civil war soldier, Chicopee Archives Online
Homes & Historical Markers
James Kavanagh House, 35 Pond Road, Damariscotta Mills, Lincoln County, ME. Library of Congress.
Peter Kavanagh’s pub, Liverpool
The Kavanagh House, Damariscotta Mills
Oral Histories
Donal Denis Kavanagh Collection, (audio only) Library of Congress
James Francis Kavanagh Collection, (audio only) Library of Congress
James J. Kavanagh Collection, Library of Congress
John Joseph Kavanagh, Sr, Collection, Library of Congress
Raymond P. Kavanagh Collection, (audio only) Library of Congress
Virginia Ransom Kavanagh Collection, (audio only) Library of Congress
Books (Online & In Print)
Cote, Anne Rideout. “The descendants of William Kavanagh” Grand Falls, New Brunswick. (Not available online - Family History Library only)
Goff, Del. “Our children’s ancestry, containing Goff - Kavanagh history” 1979. (Full view on FamilySearch)
Kavanagh, Anna T. Poynter “The Ancient House of Kavanaugh, as represented in Ireland, England, France, Prussia and America” (Full view on Internet Archive)
Kavanagh, Arthur. “Kavanagh A History of the Kavanaghs (Irish Family Names)” (Not found online)
Leave a note below if you would like to share relevant links to the Kavanagh / Cavanagh surname search, or get in touch with other researchers. Again, do not share any private information of your own, or belonging to anyone living. Thank you!
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