Surname Hourigan - Meaning and Origin
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Hourigan: What does the surname Hourigan mean?
The last name Hourigan is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from two seperate parts; the prefix “O’” meaning “son of” combined with the additional element “Uargain”, meaning “lore”.
The lineages associated with this surname originate from the southwestern County of Limerick, where it is still commonly found in modern times. The Hourigans appear to be descended from Ó hUargáin, a member of the Derriana tribal-sept and well known as a powerful family of pedigreed warriors, traceable to royal lineage in the latter part of the thirteenth century.
Considering Hourigan as a combination of the prefix, “O’”, and the name or place-name Uargian, the name could be translated to mean “son of the one connected with lore”. It is likely that the original family was renowned for their learnedness. It has also been suggested that the name was originally spelled as an Ua hUargáin, meaning “grandson of lore”.
The Hourigan surname is one that can be found all over the world, from the United States to Australia, South Africa and more. The name is shared by a number of famous figures such as Jim Hourigan, an Irish football manager, John Hourigan an American music composer for films, and Sean Hourigan, a retired Australian Rules Footballer.
Overall, the name Hourigan has a rich and distinguished history and is shared by individuals from various places around the world. Its original meaning is deeply rooted in its Irish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHourigan: Where does the name Hourigan come from?
The last name Hourigan is most commonly found among populations in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Australia is home to the largest number of people bearing the Hourigan surname. The most prominent counties in which the name can be found are Victoria and New South Wales. The larger cities in those respective states, such as Melbourne and Sydney, also hold a higher concentration of Hourigan families.
In the United Kingdom, Hourigan is most commonly found in the region of North-West England. In particular, Liverpool is recorded as one of the cities with the largest population of families with this surname.
The Hourigan surname also has a presence in smaller countries around the world, such as in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, France, and the United States.
Overall, the last name's geographical spread is vast, and its people can trace their roots as far back as the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although its presence is not as large as it once was, the Hourigan surname can still be found in different countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Hourigan
Hourigan is a surname of Irish origin, primarily found in the province of Munster. It is most commonly found in County Limerick. Variations of the surname Hourigan include O Herigan, O Hearigan, Heargan, Hourihan, Hourihane, Hurrigan, Hurragan, Huraghan and Heargen.
The derivation of the surname is from the Gaelic Ó hAodhagain, which means descendant of Aodhagain. This is an old personal name, composed of two elements. The first is either aodh or hodhar, both meaning ‘fiery’, while the second is ‘gabhain’ which is related to modern Irish ‘gob’ meaning a beak or a mouth.
The Hourigan name in Ireland was first found in Munster, where the name was found at an early date. Records show that the O Herigans were chieftains in Croom in the Barony of Coshlea. They were well known, and significant holders in these parts from 1500 to 1600.
The Hourigan spelling is thought to have originated in Limerick, as this spelling is predominant in the city and County Limerick. The Hourigans were also found in counties Kerry and Cork, with particularly strong concentrations in those counties. The variants of Hourigan spellings are equally found in these counties, as well as in Clare, Galway and Kilkenny.
In modern day, Hourigans are found all over Ireland and the wider diaspora. The Hourigan name is also found in American, Australian, and Canadian records, where it is usually recorded as Hourigan or O’Hourigan.
Famous people with the name Hourigan
- Emma Hourigan: Australian radio presenter and television host.
- Paudie Hourigan: Irish footballer who has been capped with the Irish national team.
- Kevin Hourigan: Canadian film and television director.
- Jack Hourigan: American actor and ace stuntman, actively involved in the film industry since 1960.
- Patrick Hourigan: Irish republican and politician of the late nineteenth century.
- Brian Hourigan: American former Major League Soccer player.
- Clare Hourigan: Australian psychologist known for her work in the fields of psychology and psychotherapy.
- Tony Hourigan: American businessman and co-founder of Cornerstone Financial Services.
- Brendan Hourigan: Irish sports administrator.
- Don Hourigan: Australian watercolour painter and book illustrator.