Surname O'Lannan - Meaning and Origin
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O'Lannan: What does the surname O'Lannan mean?
The last name O'Lannan is an Irish surname that can be translated to mean "descendant of Lannain". The word Lannan is derived from a first name Lann, an early Irish Gaelic masculine name meaning "Fierce Warrior". This name likely originated with a clan associated with the Ui Fiachrach dynasty, a powerful kingdom dating back to the 5th century located in the area of North Mayo and Sligo in Ireland.
From the 12th century onward, the Ui Fiachrach dynasty was divided into numerous branches, of which the O'Lannan family likely belonged to the Ui Fiachrach Muaidh sept, which was part of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne branch of the Ui Fiachrach and was closely associated with the area of the Corrib River, located between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay.
Today, many O'Lannans are of Scots-Irish descent, meaning that their ancestors left Ireland and moved to Scotland in the 1600s after a series of wars and famines left many people in Ireland without a home. From there, some O'Lannans departed for the American colonies and eventually the United States, following in the footsteps of the millions of Irish that left their home in search of a better life.
Today, the O'Lannan name is widespread and regardless of background, offers a reminder of the resilience and strength of the Irish people, with O'Lannan meaning a proud descendant of a fierce warrior.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Lannan: Where does the name O'Lannan come from?
The last name O'Lannan is found primarily in counties Galway and Mayo, located in the west of Ireland. It is a common and ancient surname from the region, and is particularly situated along the western seaboard in regions such as Connemara, Mayo, and Sligo.
This nautical connection is typical of the O'Lannans, as they are believed to have been mariners on the west coast of Ireland since the 15th century. A Galway branch of this name was also established in the 16th century on an estate near Lough Corrib, which may have led to its association with the area.
In recent decades, the surname has become increasingly distributed across the oceans, due to large-scale immigration from the west of Ireland. According to the O'Lannan surname registry at FamilySearch.org, there are more than 1,000 O'Lannans residing across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Despite its global spread, the surname is still associated most closely with the west of Ireland. This is reflected in several research studies conducted by local universities, which have consistently shown O'Lannan to be among the most common surnames in Galway and Mayo.
Variations of the surname O'Lannan
The surnames O’Lannan and O’Lannon (or Lannon or Lancan) all have the same origin. The O’ prefix means of or from and the root of the name is the Irish original ‘Lannán’. The single letter ‘L’ was used to signify ‘Laighin’ which was the pre-Gaelic name for the ancient kingdom of Leinster and the tribes of that region.
Variations of the name are O’Lachanain, O’Lonin, O’Lonnin, O’Lonninagh, O’Lanin, O’Lonin, O’Lonaghan and O’Lanaghan while alternative spellings include Lachan, Lochlain, Laighnan, Lohan, Loghain, Lohan, Lohanagh, LOannan, Lannan and Laghnane.
Surnames derived from this root vary greatly in spelling and pronunciation because of the difficulty in spelling and pronouncing Irish language. Variations of the name include Loughnan, Lanagan, Loughney, Lanney, Lohnan, Lohnen, Lansan, Lennan, Loughnan and Lohanan.
In summary, the surname O’Lannan has many variants and spellings, all stemming from the same root, ‘Lannán’. Each spellings and variants have multiple alternate spellings and pronunciations.
Famous people with the name O'Lannan
- Kaine O’Lannan: Australian actor, writer, and comedian
- Imogen O'Lannan: British actress, best known for her role in the television series The Bill
- Tara O'Lannan: Irish actress, best known for her roles in theatre productions such as Lovesong
- Oisin O'Lannan: Irish musician, singer-songwriter and producer
- Lorna O'Lannan: American jewelry designer and artist
- Bríd O'Lannan: Irish camogie player and chief executive of the Camogie Association
- Eilish O'Lannan: Irish political analyst and political commentator
- Ollie O'Lannan: Australian professional rugby league player and coach
- Suan O'Lannan: British television presenter and author
- Sean O’Lannan: Irish actor and theatre director