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 (1953–2026), 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) (1942–2026), 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 Donovan (Irish politician) (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, a character from South Park Roger Donovan, Clyde's father Betsy Donovan, Clyde's mother Curtis Donovan, from the British TV series Misfits Mike Donovan, one of the main characters of the original V franchise Race Donovan, the Ribb family assassin from the manga Black Cat by Kentaro Yabuki Ray Donovan, titular character of the American crime drama television series 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