Surname O'ogan - Meaning and Origin
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O'ogan: What does the surname O'ogan mean?
The last name O'ogan is an Irish surnames derived from the Gaelic word "oigean" which translates to "youth". This name likely originated centuries ago when an ancestor of the O'ogan family was a young man. The surname likely then spread via the Irish diaspora from the 16th century onwards.
The O'ogan surname can be found mainly in the Irish provinces of Ulster and Leinster, where it is the 162nd most common surname. It is also found in a few places outside of Ireland, primarily in the United States where the family may have been among the millions of Irish immigrants who flocked to America in the 1800s and 1900s.
The O'ogan family is likely to have experienced many struggles in life – as many Irish families have done over the centuries – but despite this, they have been able to persevere and remain a strong presence in the Irish population. The name O'ogan carries with it a strong sense of identity and pride that is rooted in Irish culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisO'ogan: Where does the name O'ogan come from?
The last name O'ogan is most commonly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It is primarily an Irish surname that originated in County Cork but has since spread to other parts of the world. The prefix "O" means "descendant of," so the name would have been taken from an ancestor or tribal chief of the surname. The remainder of the name likely has its roots in another name or surname.
In Ireland, the O'ogan surname can be found mainly in the southern counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, and Tipperary. Some offshoots of the name have been recorded in nearby counties including Galway, Clare, Kilkenny, and Wexford. In the UK, the majority of O'ogan surnames are found in England, with some recorded presence in Scotland and Wales.
In North America, the O'ogan surnames are mostly found in the United States and Canada. In the US, the largest populations of O'ogans can be found in New York, Massachusetts, California, Florida, and Illinois. In Canada, the largest populations are found in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
Despite being most common in the places listed above, the O'ogan surname can be found all across the world. Records of the name have been found as far afield as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and various other countries.
Variations of the surname O'ogan
The surname O'ogan has many variants, spellings, and even other surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is O'Ogan, but it can also appear as O'Gahan, O'Gaughan, O'Goghan, O'Goon, O'Goan, O'Gone, O'Gann, O'Guin and O'Gowney. The Irish Gaelic spelling for the name is O'hOgain, and this is the form where the surname is sourced—the root word being Págán, meaning "healer, doctor."
The name is associated with the Uí Failge clan of the kingdom of Breifne, located in present-day Co. Louth, Ireland. O'Ogans were chieftains and prominent men of their various territories, and the name is still common in parts of County Louth, County Monaghan, and neighboring Counties in the north-eastern part of the country.
In some parts of Ireland and Scotland, the O'Ogan surname has been Anglicized to Gahan, Goan, and even Hagan; however,many who bear these surnames can trace their ancestry to the Uí Failge dynasty in County Louth. Other surnames of the same origin, including O'Goan, O'Goghlin, O'Gormley, O'Gowen, and O'Hone have had similar dialectal and spelling variations over many years.
Today, O'Ogan is mainly found as a surname in Ireland, though some examples have been recorded in Scotland, England, and the United States as well. It remains a popular name in parts of County Louth in particular.
Famous people with the name O'ogan
- Shaun O'ogan: a retired Gaelic football player from Sligo, Ireland.
- Paul O'ogan: a contemporary Irish sculptor based in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.
- Damien O'ogan: an actor who has appeared in the Irish TV series The Tudors, as well as in films such as King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and The Duel.
- Patrick O'ogan: a prominent Irish American Catholic bishop and the former Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Meaghan O'ogan: a professional Irish dancer who has toured extensively with the Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and Feet of Flames dance companies.
- Maurice O'ogan: a renowned Irish novelist, short story writer and playwright.
- Martin O'ogan: a prominent lawyer and barrister from Dublin, Ireland.
- Declan O'ogan: a professional golfer who competed in various Irish professional golf tournaments.
- Joseph O'ogan: a former Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
- John O'ogan: an Irish American actor, comedian and writer, who has performed and written for notable television series such as Saturday Night Live and The Office.