Surname Hargan - Meaning and Origin
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Hargan: What does the surname Hargan mean?
Hargan is an Irish surname of Celtic and Anglo-Norman origin. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase Ó hArgáin, meaning “grandson of Argán”, with Argán being a personal name derived from the Old Gaelic words arg or arr, meaning “crafty” or “cunning”. Today, the surname Hargan can be found throughout Ireland, Britain, and other parts of the English-speaking world.
The ancient Gaelic name Ó hArgáin was used by many clans in the South and East parts of County Leitrim, and the Hargans of this area are believed to have gone on to settle in other parts of Ireland, such as County Carlow in the mid 1400s.
The Hargans were strong supporters of the Catholic religion and often served as officers in the Irish Army. Throughout the centuries, many of the Hargans were renowned for their soldiering and bravery, and there are records of distinguished service during the Williamite Wars and other armed conflicts.
The Hargans have a long history of counts, warriors, landlords, farmers, physicians, merchants, and law officers. They had the spirit of service, and today, the survivors of the Hargan bloodline continue to achieve successes in many fields. The modern Hargans are a testament to their strong heritage and proud legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisHargan: Where does the name Hargan come from?
The last name Hargan is most commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Ireland.
In the United States, the surname Hargan is particularly common in New York, Michigan, Illinois, California and Massachusetts. In the United Kingdom, Hargan can be found in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Australia has pockets of Hargan families living in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The origins of the Hargan surname are yet to be identified. Speculation by family historians suggests that it may come from Old Irish Gaelic words such as O’hArgain or O’hAirgain. The prefix O’ could indicate the name is derived from a particular family.
The name can be found among various records of emigration to these countries. Records as far back as the late 19th century show Hargans arriving in the United States and Australia aboard ships.
This name can also be found elsewhere, such as Ireland, Poland, Italy, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico and Colombia. It is likely due to the relatively small population of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Ireland, that the last name has not become as widespread in other countries.
Variations of the surname Hargan
The surname Hargan is a variant of two Gaelic surnames - O'Hargain and O'Hargainn. O'Hargain is an anglicised version of the Irish Gaelic Ó hArgáin, which means 'descendent of Argán'. Similarly, O'Hargainn is an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic Ó hArgáinna. Both surnames originate from the personal name 'Argán', often defined as an Irish Gaelic 'spark' or 'rolley'.
The surname is also found in the various spellings - O'Hargan, O Hargan, O Harghan, Hargan, Hargan, Argan, Arghan, Haraghan, and Haraghann. Other spellings can be occasionally found, such as O'Horgun, O'Harghan, Argun, Horgun, Harogn, and Harron.
The surname might also be found in conjugate surnames, such as Hargain and Hargon. Hargelt is another possible spelling, found mostly in the Southern U.S.
The history of the surname is mainly situated in the counties of Galway and Cork in present-day Ireland. It is believed that the name started to be used centuries ago when people took on surnames, and it can now be found in countries all over the world, when Irish emigration brought the name abroad. In Scotland, the surname spelled as Argan is associated with the Gaelic Ó h-Argáin.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found across the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California.
Overall, the Hargan surname originates from Ireland and is a variant spelling of two other Gaelic surnames. The surname can be found in many different spellings and conjugates, and is predominantly situated in the United States and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Hargan
- Dennis Hargan: Australian author, currently living in Victoria and writing for publications such as Beef Central and Grain Central.
- John Hargan: tennis player who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1924 and a professional who reached the third round of Wimbledon in 1930.
- Tom Hargan: British sprint canoeist who has represented the UK multiple times in the Canoe Sprint World Championships and European Championships.
- Mary Hargan: American politician who became the first woman to represent Wisconsin in the US House of Representatives in 1975.
- Sister Mary Hargan: American nurse and nun who provided medical and spiritual care for patients in the Midwest during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Joe Hargan: American painter and sculptor who has exhibited works on multiple continents and has been featured in many publications.
- Malcolm Hargan: Scottish businessman, best known for founding the clothing and footwear company, Hargan's.
- Bit Hargan: Scottish actor who has appeared in television programs such as Monarch of the Glen, Taggart and the Inspector Morse prequels Lewis and Endeavour.
- Rich Hargan: American ice hockey player who played five seasons in the National Hockey League.
- William Hargan: American lawyer who served as Assistant Attorney General of the United States from 1943 to 1945.