Surname O'Feehan - Meaning and Origin
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O'Feehan: What does the surname O'Feehan mean?
The Irish surname O'Feehan is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Fíodhabhaigh, which anglicized to Feehan or Fehan. The names likely derive from the Irish word ‘fiodh’, meaning both ‘forest’ and ‘peace’.
Historically, the name O’Feehan was found in County Clare, where the family origins date back to Medieval Ireland. During this period the surname was associated with the Cineál Fíodhagain, a clan from the Glenomara region of the county. It is thought that during the Middle Ages, individuals associated with the name O'Feehan held prominent positions in regional and national affairs.
The family began to spread across the country during the 18th and 19th centuries, with the name becoming more widespread in Connacht, Munster, Ulster and Dublin. Finally, in the mid-1800s a large amount of the Irish diaspora travelled to America, with people associated with the O’Feehan name settling in both Europe and the United States.
Today, the O'Feehan name continues to be used around the world, with members of the family showing a strong affinity with their Irish roots. The name signifies peace, strength and loyalty, with those bearing the name holding a strong sense of pride in their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Feehan: Where does the name O'Feehan come from?
The last name O'Feehan is most common in Ireland, with substantial numbers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. According to the National Sources of Ireland, the surname originated in County Clare in the fifteenth century. In the past century, the name has spread throughout the world, with many O'Feehan families living in Great Britain, Scotland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
In Ireland today, the O'Feehan surname is scattered over all 32 counties. There are many people with the surname living today who trace their roots back to the original family from County Clare, as well as to other regions of the country. In Northern Ireland, the O'Feehan surname can be found primarily in Belfast, Derry City, Douglas, Antrim, and Down. In the rest of the country, there are pockets of O'Feehan families located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and Meath.
The most prominent concentration of O'Feehan families in Ireland today is in County Cork, where the largest number of O'Feehan families live, followed by County Limerick, County Galway, County Mayo, and County Donegal. Outside of Ireland, many O'Feehan families are located in cities across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Seattle. These families often trace their roots to immigrants who emigrated to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the Irish diaspora.
Overall, the O'Feehan surname is still very common today both in Ireland and in other parts of the world where Irish immigrants have settled.
Variations of the surname O'Feehan
The surname O'Feehan has derived from the Irish Gaelic ‘O Fiachain’, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name. O'Feehan is a typical variant of the surname, however other typical variants of the surname include Fehan, Feehan, O'Fee, Fehane and Fee. Additionally, there are numerous spelling variations of the surname which are seen around the globe. These include Faheen, Feean, Feehane, Feehan, Feeheen, Fehan, Fehane, Fehean, Feheen, Fehin, Fehyn, and O'Fee. There are also numerous anglicized spellings of the surname O'Feehan, such as Feehon, Feighan and Fihan.
The various forms and spellings of the surname all share a common origin and are all derivative of the same ancestral family name. O'Feehan is typically an Irish surname, originating from County Galway however the name can also be found in small pockets of Scotland. The surname also has numerous other variants in the United States such as: Feighan, Feghan, Fehan, Feehan and Fehane.
The surname O'Feehan is a unique name with a vast history that is still alive today. With the various variants and spellings, it is easy to see how the family name has endured and spread around the world.
Famous people with the name O'Feehan
- Brendan O’Feehan: Irish Amateur Lightweight Boxing Champion in 2018
- Mary O’Feehan: Award-winning painter
- Danny O’Feehan: Film director, actor, and writer, known for his work in Jack Irish (2012), Rogue (2013), and Edge of the World (2018)
- Ben O’Feehan: Professional Rugby League player for the Warrington Wolves
- Marnie O’Feehan: Celebrity nutritionist and author of bestselling book “The Supercharged Boost”
- PJ O’Feehan: Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer
- Hugh O’Feehan: Olympic-medalist swimmer
- Adele O’Feehan: Australian television presenter and journalist
- Dean O’Feehan: Launched his own clothing line in 2014
- Patrick O’Feehan: Scientist and inventor of a revolutionary new medical device