Madudan mac Gadhra Mór was the namesake

Namesake

Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....

 and ancestor of the Ó Madden

Madden

Madden may refer to:People* Madudan mac Gadhra Mór ancestor of the Madden family of County Galway* Benji and Joel Madden of the pop-punk band Good Charlotte* Bill Madden , columnist for the New York Daily News...

 family.

Madudan was the son of Gadhra Mór mac Dundach

Gadhra Mór mac Dundach

-Biography:Gadhra Mór was one of three known sons of Dundach, chief of the region extending from Grian to Caradh. The others were Diarmaid and Cú Connacht mac Dundach . He became chief of Síol Anmchadha in 1008, and all of Uí Maine after 1014...

 who fought at the Battle of Clontarf

Battle of Clontarf

The Battle of Clontarf took place on 23 April 1014 between the forces of Brian Boru and the forces led by the King of Leinster, Máel Mórda mac Murchada: composed mainly of his own men, Viking mercenaries from Dublin and the Orkney Islands led by his cousin Sigtrygg, as well as the one rebellious...

 in 1014. The Annals of Ulster

Annals of Ulster

The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...

 describe him as Chief of Síol Anmchadha

Síol Anmchadha

Síol Anmchadha was a sub-kingdom or lordship of Hy-Many, and ruled by an off-shoot of the Ui Maine called the Síol Anmchadha , from whom the territory took its name....

 on the occasion of his death - killed by his brother, Cú Connacht mac Gadhra Mór (died ca. 1045) - in 1008. Gerard Madden

Gerard Madden

Gerard Madden is a native of Whitegate, County Clare, and is the author of a number of books dealing the ancestry of Irish families, including the Maddens of County Galway.-References:...

 expresses some doubt about his description as chief, as his father became lord in the same year, and also about his parentage. Madudan's only known issue was Diarmaid mac Madudan

Diarmaid mac Madudan

-Biography:Described as a rod who ruled each road, Diarmaid was the son of Madudan mac Gadhra Mór. He led the Madden clan in a plundering raid on Clonmacnoise in 1050. However, he became blind in old age and was killed by his nephew, Madudan, and succeeded by his son, Madudan Reamhar Ua...

 (chief 1032–1069 whose son, Madudan Reamhar Ua Madadhan

Madudan Reamhar Ua Madadhan

-Biography:A grandson of Gadhra Mór mac Dundach and a son of Madudan mac Gadhra Mór, Madudan Reamhar was the first bearer of the surname Madden, a family originally from east County Galway....

 (chief from 1069 to 1096) was the first of the Síol Anmchadha

Síol Anmchadha

Síol Anmchadha was a sub-kingdom or lordship of Hy-Many, and ruled by an off-shoot of the Ui Maine called the Síol Anmchadha , from whom the territory took its name....

 to bear the surname Ó Madadhan.

In his edition of the Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, John O'Donovan

John O'Donovan (scholar)

John O'Donovan , from Atateemore, in the parish of Kilcolumb, County Kilkenny, and educated at Hunt's Academy, Waterford, was an Irish language scholar from Ireland.-Life:...

 quotes a prose tract written during the lifetime of Eoghan Ó Madadhan

Eoghan Ó Madadhan

-Early life:Eoghan was one of the four sons of Murchad of Magh Bealaigh, who was Chief from 1286 to 1327. Murchad married Marcella, daughter of Eoghan Ó Cellaigh...

 (died 1347) which calls Diarmaid son of the affluent Madudan, son of the fettering Gadhra.