Surname Costigan - Meaning and Origin

Costigan: What does the surname Costigan mean?

The last name Costigan is an Irish name of Norman-French origin, derived from the personal name “Coste” which was a nickname for 'someone with a proud and bold attitude'. This nickname was likely chosen due to a Celtic warrior tradition.

The first documents of Costigan as a surname date back from the late 12th century in Ireland. The family is traditionally associated with County Kilkenny, in Leinster, since the 1800s.

The Costigan surname is most commonly found in South East Ireland in counties such as Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Waterford, and Wexford today. The name was also adopted by people who left Ireland during the 19th-century Great Famine for North America.

The Costigans have an interesting past; some very well-known Costigans have contributed to Irish music and politics throughout the years.

Today, the Costigan surname is found all over the world and is well known for its proud Irish history and culture. Each person carries the name with honor and pride and continues to celebrate their heritage.

Costigan: Where does the name Costigan come from?

The Costigan surname is most commonly seen in countries of Ireland, the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. In Ireland, the Costigan name is most prevalent in counties along the western coast such as County Clare, Galway, and Limerick. Costigans in the United Kingdom are primarily found in Devon, England. Through maps and studies, it is believed that many of the Costigans in the United States and Canada descended from the Costigans in Ireland and the United Kingdom who emigrated to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.

During the years of 1840 and 1880, the majority of Irish immigrants to the United States were from the counties of Clare, Galway, and Limerick. This was due to The Great Famine, which led to a mass exodus of Ireland during the 1840s and 1850s. During this time, the Costigan name was commonplace in both passenger lists and Protestant registers as Costigens emigrated in search of a better life in the United States.

Today, the Costigan surname can be found across the continent in states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, California, Washington DC, and Oregon. There is also a considerable presence of the name Costigan in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta as the Costigans traveled to the area in search of more land opportunities and employment.

In Australia, a significant concentration of Costigans are found in New South Wales and Victoria. These were descendants of 19th century migrants from Britain and Ireland who found new opportunities and lives in the agricultural lands of Australia.

Variations of the surname Costigan

The surname Costigan is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ciosagáin, which means “descendant of Ciosagán”. Ciosagán was a name derived from the Old Irish words “cios” and “gán”, both of which mean “foot soldier”.

The Costigan surname is also spelled a variety of different ways, including Costegan, Costegen, Costigan, Costigane, Cochstigane, Kostigan, and Kostegen. It can also be used as a first name.

Variants and other surnames derived from the Irish Ó Ciosagáin include the surnames Cosson, Cussen, Coash, Coashane, Guessane, Gissane, and Kassion.

The Costigan surname can also be found in other variants in countries such as England, Scotland, and the United States. In England, variations could include Cosson and Cosson, while in Scotland, variants could be Cusson and Cusson. In the United States, variants could be Cushon, Cushaw, Kussin, and Kushaw.

The Costigan surname can also be found in other languages such as German (Kostegen), French (Costigan), Dutch (Kostige), and Spanish (Costigán).

Famous people with the name Costigan

• Patrick Costigan: professor and author from Ireland
• Marc Costigan: former Australian rules footballer
• Ashley Costigan: Australian journalist
• Liam Costigan: Australian film and television actor
• Mickey Costigan: former Irish rugby player
• Kenneth Costigan: American architect
• Michael Costigan: American film producer
• Byron Costigan: former English cricketer
• Mark Costigan: Irish politician
• Lorraine Costigan: Australian midwife
• Patrick Costigan: Australian radio presenter
• Carla Costigan: Australian model and actress
• Pat Reilly Costigan: former Irish-American boxer
• Michael J. Costigan: US Navy Medal of Honor recipient
• Annie Costigan: professional Irish folk singer
• Stephen Costigan: Australian painter
• Pat Costigan: American hockey player
• P. H. Costigan: Canadian politician
• Sheila Costigan: Scottish political activist
• Phil Costigan: Canadian football player

Other surnames

Costigin