Surname Dunigan - Meaning and Origin
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Dunigan: What does the surname Dunigan mean?
The last name Dunigan is a surname of Irish origin. The Irish meaning of the name is 'descendant of Donnagain.' Donnagain is a diminutive of the Gaelic name Donncha, which is thought to come from the root donn, meaning 'brown.'
The surname often appeared as 'O Dunigan' among early Irish families of the surname. It is derived from the place name Dunigan, which is now a townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The townland is part of the traditional barony of Tirkeeran.
The Dunigan surname can be found most frequently in the province of Ulster, especially in the counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Antrim.
Most modern-day people who bear this surname are descended from the same lineage, which can be traced back to the O'Dunigan clan. The sept of O'Donnagain was found in various parts of the province, including Derry, Tyrone and Antrim. They were a branch of the Cenel Eogain, one of the great Clans of Ulster.
Today, the Dunigan surname is still present in Ireland, but is also found all over the world, particularly in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The Dunigan name is proud and strong, having been with many families for hundreds of years. It is an Irish surname that has spread around the world and is proudly carried by many people who have a strong sense of tradition and family heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisDunigan: Where does the name Dunigan come from?
The last name Dunigan is most commonly found in Ireland. This surname is of Irish origin, and is an anglicized version of the Irish name Ó Dúnghail, which means descendant of Dúnghal. It is a well-known surname in the eastern and southern parts of Ulster, and is also still present in counties Laois and Offaly.
It is believed to have originated in the Leinster province, where an ancient chief was said to have had the name. Afterwards, it was said to have spread to areas of Armagh and Tyrone as the population grew larger in these areas.
Today, Dunigan is most common in Ireland, followed by the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. It is much less common in other countries, but can still occasionally be found in South Africa, New Zealand, and other countries.
In Ireland, Dunigan is most commonly found in the counties of Kerry, Meath, Cork, and Mayo. However, it can still be found in other counties as well. The population of Dunigans is relatively low compared to other last names, and is estimated to be less than two thousand people living in all of Ireland.
At the same time, the number of people with the last name Dunigan who have emigrated from Ireland is much higher. There are now thousands of Dunigans living in countries around the world, particularly the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Dunigan
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Dunigan are Dunigan, Doonigan, Dunnican, Donnican, Dunogan, Dunigin, Donigin, O'Donnagain, Donnagan, Donnegan, Donneghan, Donnygan and O'Donnegan.
The surname Dunigan is believed to have originated from the County of Donegal in Ireland, which has an abundance of ancient sites and ruins. The surname is most likely derived from the Irish term O'Donnagain. This surname appears to be a combination of the Gaelic word Donn (meaning signifying 'brown') and the rugged and hilly region of the county of Donegal. The Doonigan spelling of the surname is most likely the old Irish spelling.
The Dunnican, Dunogan, Dunigin, Donigin spellings of the surname are most likely derived from the old Irish spelling O'Donnagain. The O'Donnagain spelling is most likely the original spelling of the surname, which was eventually shortened to its current variant.
Donnagan, Donnegan, Donneghan, Donnygan and O'Donnegan are all likely variations of the original Irish surname Donigin. These last three spellings have evolved over the years to better reflect the accents of the local population in the region.
The Dunigan surname is not common and is found most frequently in the County of Donegal. It is still used as a family name today, and many of the its members are direct descendants of the original Irish family.
Famous people with the name Dunigan
- Jim Dunigan: Professional American football quarterback, coach and scout
- Juli Dunigan: Children’s advocate and author
- Brad Dunigan: Professional baseball player
- John Dunigan: Former professional American football player
- Michael Dunigan: Professional basketball player
- Tim Dunigan: American actor
- Steve Dunigan: Former professional American football player
- Matt Dunigan: Professional American football quarterbacks
- Bill Dunigan: Retired professional American football player
- Jeff Dunigan: Professional American football player
- Jack Dunigan: Retired professional American football player
- Eric Dunigan: Former professional American football player
- Mark Dunigan: Former professional American football player
- Bobby Dunigan: Professional American football player
- Ned Dunigan: Former professional American football player
- Don Dunigan: Retired professional American football player
- Tommy Dunigan: professional American football player
- Duncan Dunigan: English actor
- Sean Dunigan: Professional American football player
- Tony Dunigan: Retired professional American football player