Surname Brannigan - Meaning and Origin
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Brannigan: What does the surname Brannigan mean?
The last name Brannigan is believed to have originated in Ireland and the UK. The word "Brannigan" is derived from the Irish "O'Branagain" which means “descendants of Bran”. The name Bran was a popular Gaelicgiven name, believed to have derived from a word meaning “raven”. The name Bran may have also been derived from the legendary Irish warrior Bran mac Febail, with the suffix -again added to signify linage or descendants.
The Brannigans were primarily found in the western and northern portions of Ireland. It has spread over the centuries due to immigration to North America and other parts of the world.
This strong Irish name has come to symbolise strength and character, likely stemming from its ancestry. For many descendants, it is a symbol of pride to be identified as a “Brannigan”. Many, such as sportspeople, military personnel, business owners, and politicians, have succeeded despite great odds and made a lasting impression in their respective fields of choice.
The legacy of the Brannigans is one of strength, character, and resilience. As its descendants have shown, being part of the Brannigan family is something to be proud of and celebrated.
Order DNA origin analysisBrannigan: Where does the name Brannigan come from?
The last name Brannigan is not especially common today, but it is most prevalent among people of Irish descent, particularly those whose ancestors originated in County Mayo. The earliest recorded appearance of the name is in the late 17th century in Connacht, in the northwest of Ireland. The spelling of the name has varied, with spelling variations including Branigan, Brannigan, and Brennigen. Those with the surname can be found scattered throughout North America, Britain, and Australia, likely the result of Irish emigration over the last two centuries.
In more recent times, the name has been borne by a variety of people. A notable bearer of the surname is character actor Leo G. Carroll who starred in various films throughout the 1940s and 1950s. There was also Justice Patrick Brannigan, who served on the appellate division of New York State Supreme Court, and scientist Maurice Brannigan.
In contemporary times, the name may occur more often as a given name than as a last name – for example, singer and musician Chad Brannigan, who is a member of the Canadian rock band "Rocking Horse Winner", and footballer Henri Brannigan from Manchester United.
Overall, the last name Brannigan is not hugely prevalent today but its legacy lives on in the thousands of people throughout the world with the Brannigan name and Irish ancestry, as well as in its uses as a popular given name.
Variations of the surname Brannigan
The surname Brannigan is of Irish origin and is derived from the name "O'Branagain" which was anglicized later to Brannigan. This surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, as described below.
Branigan: This is the most commonly used variant of the surname, differing only by the omission of the final 'n'.
Brannagan: This is spelled with one ‘g’, which is an alternate spelling of the original name.
Branagen: This is another alternative spelling of the original surname.
Breenigan: This is a variation of the surname spelling that has been slightly adapted to fit the Irish phonetic pronunciation.
O'Branagain: This is the original and authentic spelling of the name, although it is rarely used and has been anglicized to Brannigan.
O'Brenigan: This is a variant spelling of the original surname, that has only changed by the transposition of the first two letters.
MacBranaghan: This is a patronymic surname derived from the original magic Brannaghan, that often is used interchangeably with the original name.
MacBrenigin: This is another patronymic form of the original surname, and is used in a similar way as MacBranaghan.
These are some of the most frequent variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as the surname Brannigan.
Famous people with the name Brannigan
- Margaret Brannigan: professional Australian netballer
- Ryan Brannigan: Irish squash player
- Dean Brannigan: Canadian rapper and songwriter
- Eamonn Brannigan: Irish football player
- John Brannigan: American lawyer and politician
- Dariusz Brannigan: Polish handball player
- Mickey Brannigan: American basketball player
- Michael Brannigan: American middle distance runner
- Matt Brannigan: American writer and producer
- Donal Brannigan: Irish academic, historian and author