Surname Kelaghan - Meaning and Origin
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Kelaghan: What does the surname Kelaghan mean?
The last name Kelaghan is an anglicized version of the Irish name Mac Giolla Chatháin, which originated as a patronymic surname created from the forename "giolla Chatháin". The prefix "Mac" means "son of"; giolla Chatháin was a personal name that translates into English as "son of Cathy". This suggests that the first member of the Kelaghan lineage was the son of a man with the first name "Cathy".
Kelaghan is the Irish form of the more common last name "Kelly". It is believed to have been brought into the country by Irish emigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period of Irish emigration, it was common practice to adopt anglicized versions of traditional Irish names. As a result, many families of Irish descent began using the anglicised Kelly instead of their true Irish name.
Kelaghan is the traditional Brehon Irish name for a descendant of the Ui Fiachra tribe. The Ui Fiachra were one of the most powerful of Ireland’s ancient clans. The clan is believed to have originated with the legendary chief Fiachra Mac Conri, who is said to have been present in the courts of the High Kings of Ireland.
The Kelaghans are stillholders of a long and proud Irish history. The name continues to be found mostly in Ireland, especially in the Province of Connacht. Although the spelling may have changed over the centuries, the original proud Irish heritage of the family is still evident today.
Order DNA origin analysisKelaghan: Where does the name Kelaghan come from?
The last name Kelaghan is most commonly found in Ireland. It is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Giollagáin, which translates to ‘descendant of Giollagáin’. The name is believed to have originated in County Mayo in the southwest of Ireland.
Today, the last name Kelaghan is still quite common in County Mayo. It is also found throughout Ireland and in pockets in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, and Australia, where there are large Irish immigrant populations.
Given the significant number of Irish immigrants that settled in the United States during the 19th century, the last name Kelaghan is fairly common there too. According to research by the US Census Bureau, Kelaghan was the 1,872nd most popular last name in the United States in 2000, and the 2,061st most popular name in the 2010 census.
Surnames ending with ‘-aghan’ are quite common in County Mayo and other parts of Ireland, because the Gaelic word ‘oghan’ generally means ‘youth’ or ‘young man’. In fact, some of the more common names in this category include Driscoll, Guiney, Mooney, Bohan, and O’Hara.
Overall, the last name Kelaghan is still fairly common around the world today. It is particularly prevalent in County Mayo, where there are a high concentration of descendents from the original Giollagáin family.
Variations of the surname Kelaghan
The surname Kelaghan is derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallacháin, meaning "descendant of Ceallacháin". It is most commonly found in Western County Galway, and is one of the few native Irish surnames that survived the English Invasion of the 12th century.
Variants of this surname include Killaghan, Kellaghan, Kilaghan, O'Callaghan and O'Kellaghan. In some cases, the name has been Anglicized to Callaghan. It is also commonly found spelled as Keillaghan, Keelaghan, Keleghan, Kelleher, Kealaghan, Kellehan, Kealagen, Kealaghen, Kealgon, and Kealogon.
One of the more intriguing variations of the surname is the spelling 'Killeaghin'. This is believed to be derived from the Irish words 'Ceallachán, Ceallachan' which mean 'tardy, slow to move'.
The most common variant of the surname in Ireland is 'Callaghan'. It may also be found as 'Killaghan', 'Kellaghan' or 'Kilaghan'. In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been changed slightly since its introduction into the country. For example, the name 'Callaghan' may also be found as 'Calleghan'.
Although the name is predominantly found in Ireland, it can also be found in areas outside of the country such as England, Scotland, and the United States. There it is commonly spelled Kelleghen, Kelleghan, Kealaghan, and Caelaghan.
The different spellings of the surname Kelaghan reflect its strong Irish roots and its potential adaptability to different cultures. No matter what spelling variation is used, however, the surname's origin remains the same; it is a derivative of the Irish patronymic Ó Ceallacháin, which translates to 'descendant of Ceallacháin'.
Famous people with the name Kelaghan
- Ardash Kelaghan: a journalist from New York City.
- Kathryn Kelaghan: co-founder of the Irish music group The Kelaghans.
- Harry Kelaghan: an actor and theater director from Chicago.
- Siobhan Kelaghan: an Irish pop singer from Dublin.
- Bronagh Kelaghan: an Olympic athlete from Belfast.
- Finlay Kelaghan: an Irish poet and author from Cork.
- Paddy Kelaghan: an Irish folk musician from Coleraine.
- Tadhg Kelaghan: an Irish-American entrepreneur from San Francisco.
- Regan Kelaghan: a Los Angeles based fashion designer.
- Paco Kelaghan: a retired Major League Baseball player.