Donovan (surname)

Donovan is a surname of Irish origin. The O'Donovan family takes its name from Donnubán mac Cathail.

People

Academia and science

• Charles Donovan (1863–1951), Irish-born Anglo-Indian naturalist
• Claire Donovan (1948–2019), British historian
• Edward Donovan (1768–1837), Anglo-Irish zoologist
• Herman Lee Donovan (1887–1964), President of the University of Kentucky
• James Donovan (forensic scientist) (1944–2025), Irish forensic scientist
• John J. Donovan (born 1943), American professor of management science and entrepreneur
• Josephine Donovan (born 1941), American scholar
• Mary Josephine Donovan O'Sullivan (1887–1966), née Donovan, Irish scholar

Arts and entertainment

• Casey Donovan (actor), (1943–1987), American gay porn star born John Calvin Culver
• Casey Donovan (singer), (born 1988), Australian singer
• Chris Donovan (director), American television director and producer
• Daisy Donovan (born 1973), English television presenter, actress, and writer
• Dan Donovan (guitarist) (born 1960), British singer/songwriter
• Dan Donovan (keyboardist) (born 1962), British rock musician
• Ed Donovan (1931–2025), American actor and editor
• Elisa Donovan (born 1971), American actress, writer, and producer
• Gerard Donovan (born 1959), Irish novelist and poet
• Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, American musical theater actress and singer
• Jason Donovan (born 1968), Australian pop rock singer and actor
• Lisa Donovan (born 1980), American internet actress
• Mark Donovan (actor) (born 1958), Welsh actor
• Martin Donovan (born 1957), American actor
• Michael Donovan (born 1953), Canadian voice actor and voice director
• Natasha Donovan, Métis Canadian illustrator
• Paul Donovan (writer) (born 1954), creator of LEXX
• Tara Donovan (born 1969), American artist
• Tate Donovan (born 1963), American actor
• Terence Donovan (actor) (born 1942), Australian actor
• Terence Donovan (photographer) (1936–1996), British photographer

Government

• Bob Donovan (born 1956), Wisconsin politician
• Christopher G. Donovan (born 1953), Connecticut politician
• Dan Donovan (politician), American politician
• Daniel M. Donovan Jr. (born 1956), United States Representative from New York City
• Francis Patrick Donovan (1922–2012), Australian ambassador to OECD and UN
• James G. Donovan (1898–1987), Democratic politician, former New York State Senator and US Representative
• James H. Donovan (1923–1990), Republican politician, former New York State Senator
• Jeremiah Donovan (1857–1935), Connecticut politician
• Jerome F. Donovan (1872–1949), US Representative from New York
• J. J. Donovan (1858–1937), Washington state pioneer and politician
• Johannah Leddy Donovan (born 1944), American educator and politician
• John Thomas Donovan (1878–1922), Irish nationalist politician
• Raymond J. Donovan (1930–2021), American businessman and Secretary of Labor (1981–1985)
• Shaun Donovan (born 1966), American former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and director of the Office of Management and Budget
• Terence Donovan, Baron Donovan (1898–1971), British Labour Party politician and judge

Military and intelligence

• Edward Westby Donovan (1821–1897), commander of British troops in China, also colonel of the East Yorkshire Regiment
• Francis L. Donovan, US Marine Corps general
• James B. Donovan (1916–1970), American lawyer, US Navy officer, and member of the Office of Strategic Services
• Matthew Donovan (born 1958), Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, retired US Air Force colonel
• William J. Donovan (1883–1959), American lawyer, soldier, and espionage chief

Sports

• Art Donovan (1924–2013), American football player
• Bill Donovan (1876–1923), American baseball player and manager
• Bill Donovan (Boston Braves pitcher) (1916–1997), American baseball player
• Billy Donovan (born 1965), American basketball coach
• Brendan Donovan (born 1997), German–born American baseball player
• Colby Donovan (born 2006), Scottish footballer
• Dick Donovan (1927–1997), Major League Baseball pitcher
• Don Donovan (1929–2013), Irish footballer and manager
• Joshua Donovan (born 1999), American football player
• Kevin Donovan (born 1971), English footballer
• Landon Donovan (born 1982), American soccer player
• Larry Donovan (1941–2025), American football coach
• Professor Mike Donovan (1847–1918), American bare-knuckle boxer and teacher
• Patsy Donovan (1865–1953), Irish-American professional baseball player
• Roy Donovan (1903–1972), Australian rules footballer
• Shean Donovan (born 1975), Canadian ice hockey player

Other fields

• Allen F. Donovan (1914–1995), American aerospace engineer
• Carrie Donovan (1928–2001), American fashion magazine editor
• Daniel Donovan (doctor) (died 1880), doctor of medicine and author
• Ed Donovan (engine builder) (1928–1989), American racing engine and parts builder
• Hedley Donovan (1914–1990), American magazine editor
• Jean Donovan (1953–1980), American lay missionary
• Jim Donovan (banker) (born 1967), American banker
• John Anthony Donovan (1911–1991), Bishop of Toledo
• Larry Donovan (bridge jumper) (1862–1888), American typesetter who jumped from bridges
• Paul Donovan (economist) (born 1972), UBS Global Chief Economist
• Paul Vincent Donovan (1924–2011), Bishop of Kalamazoo

Fictional characters

• Clyde Donovan, in the animated TV series South Park, portrayed by Trey Parker
• Curtis Donovan, from the British TV series Misfits
• Mike Donovan, one of the main characters of the original V franchise
• Victor Donovan, main antagonist in the Dead or Alive series
• Walter Donovan the main antagonist of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• W. H. Donovan, in the novel Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak

See also

• O'Donovan (surname)
• Edward Donavon (1872–1951), Irish cricketer