Surname Fanagan - Meaning and Origin
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Fanagan: What does the surname Fanagan mean?
The last name Fanagan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surname O Fionnagáin, which translates to descendant of Fionnagán. The name Fionnagán, a personal name, is thought to have been derived from the phrase fionn mac gána, meaning fair-haired son of valour. It is thought to have been brought into Ireland by settlers from Scotland in the 11th century.
The surname Fanagan can still be found mainly in the counties of Mayo, Galway and Limerick. It has been common in Mayo and Galway since at least the 17th century and is among the 50 most numerous surnames in that region.
As an occupational name, Fanagan is thought to refer to the leather maker who went by the name of tanner in Irish. This was an important trade in rural troubled Ireland in the 1700s, as it supplied leather for boots, saddles, covers and clothes.
The name Fanagan often appeared as Fanning or Fenning and can also be found today in England, Ireland, Scotland and Australia, as a number of families emigrated from Ireland during the 19th century famine.
Today, the Fanagan family pride themselves on their Celtic heritage and continue to share their unique story and background.
Order DNA origin analysisFanagan: Where does the name Fanagan come from?
The last name Fanagan is most commonly seen today in Ireland with over 3,000 people carrying the name. The surname is relatively widespread throughout the country with the highest concentrations in the capital, Dublin, and its surrounding counties, such as Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow. Though it has historically been more common in other Gaelic-speaking countries such as Scotland and the Isle of Man, those populations have dropped in recent years, further consolidating the surname’s presence in Ireland. Spelling variations of the name include Fanagan, Fanning, and Fanagan.
The Fanagans can trace their roots to the early 9th century, when the first recorded person to carry the name, Mael Fabhain, lived in County Dublin. From there, the family moved throughout the surrounding provinces and, by the 18th century, onto the Isle of Man. The surname is thought to be derived from the Gaelic O' Fionnagáin, which translates to “grandson of the fair-haired one.”
Though little is known of the origin of the Fanagan name, it has endured the centuries with a thriving presence throughout the Emerald Isle.
Variations of the surname Fanagan
The surname Fanagan has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Fannigan, Finnegan, Fannigane, Fingane, Findigane, Fingayne, Findigayne, Findigan, Finigan, Fogene, Fansgan, Fonsgane, Fenigan, Fennegan, Fingan, Fennigan, and Fannagan. The origins of these surnames are Irish, with all of them being derived from the Gaelic personal name “Fionnagán”, which is composed of two elements: “fionn,” meaning “fair,” and “gam,” meaning “birth.” This personal name was borne by a hero of Irish myth, and it was later used as a personal name and a surname.
When translated into English, it becomes “white-born” or “born of fair skin.”The surname was widely used throughout Ireland, but particularly in Counties Leitrim and Sligo. Those that bore this surname were known as being brave and fierce, as was the case with its mythological namesake.
The surname spread to other places like Scotland and Britain, where it has been passed down through generations. Today, the surname persists all over the world with many descendants of Irish descent still using the name. It is commonly used in both its native form and variants like Fannigan, Finnegan, Fannigane, Fingane, and Findigane.
Famous people with the name Fanagan
- Stanley Fanagan: an Irish physicist and chemist.
- Michael Fanagan: an Irish soccer player of the 1950s.
- John Fanagan: a Canadian politician.
- Jimmy Fanagan: a retired Irish professional golfer.
- Katie Fanagan: a popular Irish comedian.
- Marshall Fanagan: an American film producer and director.
- Elizabeth Fanagan: an Irish-American architect.
- James Fanagan: an Irish composer and musician.
- Brian Fanagan: an Irish multiplayer world-champion e-sport player.
- Liam Fanagan: an Irish professional rugby player.
- Eileen Fanagan: an Irish playwright and poet.
- Stephen Fanagan: an Irish artist and illustrator.
- Barry Fanagan: an Irish pediatrician and biochemist.
- Kevin Fanagan: a British businessman.
- Conor Fanagan: an Irish comedian and actor.
- Gordon Fanagan: an English professional artist.
- Mark Fanagan: an American basketball player.
- Pat Fanagan: an Irish business executive.
- Maureen Fanagan: an Irish humanitarian.
- Jane Fanagan: an Australian urban planner and architect.