Surname Forgan - Meaning and Origin

Forgan: What does the surname Forgan mean?

The surname Forgan is of Scottish origin, specifically from the eastern coastal region of Fife. It is a habitational or geographical name that originated from a location called Forgan in Fife. The name is believed to have derived from two Gaelic words - "For", meaning the place or territory, and "gan", possibly meaning "birth" or "generation". Thus, it may indicate a person who hails from the place of Forgan. This surname dates back several centuries, and persons with this name can be found not only in Scotland but also in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, where Scottish migrants settled. It is noteworthy that derivations of Gaelic words can be complex and scholars may have varying interpretations.

Forgan: Where does the name Forgan come from?

The surname Forgan is of Scottish origin. It comes from the area of Forgan in the county of Fife, Scotland. Historically, Scottish people used the name of their clan or place of origin as identification. Hence, individuals living in or near Forgan would have been known as "of Forgan" which evolved into the surname Forgan.

Today, Forgan is not a very common surname. It can be found scattered across English-speaking countries like the UK, United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it is more concentrated in Scotland, the place of its origin, and the United States. Given that surnames in the US often reflect the patterns of immigration, the presence of the name Forgan could indicate that the bearers' ancestors immigrated from Scotland.

Data from surname distribution maps indicate that the Forgan surname is particularly prevalent in the areas of Tayside and Fife in Scotland, and in the state of Oklahoma in the US. This distribution may have been shaped by historical migration and settlement patterns.

Variations of the surname Forgan

The surname Forgan is said to be of Scottish origin, likely originating from the village of Forgan in Fife, Scotland. There are various spellings and variants of the same origin for the surname Forgan. These may include Foggon, Forgon, Forgen, Forgean, and Forgane.

The surnames Forgandenny, Forgandenny, and Forgandenis are also connected to the Forgan family, but these are suspect as they appear to derive from the place Forgandenny in Perthshire, Scotland, and not directly from Forgan.

Additionally, the variant Foggan or Foggans is sometimes seen, but it is unclear if these are true variations of the name Forgan or if they are unrelated.

Forgan can also be found as a first name, though it is much less common. Not a lot of variations in the first name Forgan seem to exist.

There's an important consideration that variant spellings of the surname might have been created due to errors in recording or different phonetic interpretations over time and across different regions. Therefore, the variants and their spellings can potentially be quite large in number.

Famous people with the name Forgan

• Jeff Forgan, is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Standoff, Letters to God, and The Purge.
• Richard Forgan, is a Scottish biochemist and businessman who founded Forgan Ltd.
• James Forgan Smith, was an Australian Premier of Queensland and the 422nd leader of the Queensland Labor Party from 1929 to 1932.
• Ian Forgan, is a Scottish former professional football player who played for clubs such as Celtic, Hearts, and Hibernian.
• Andrew Forgan, is a British composer known for his YouTube series composed by Andrew Forgan.
• Robert Forgan, was a Scottish stamp engraver who worked for the Inland Revenue and the Post Office.
• Anthony Forgan, was a British professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for clubs such as Grimsby Town, Peterborough United, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
• Luke Forgan, is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs such as Cambridge United and Chippenham Town.
• Roderick Forgan, is an American musician, composer, and educator from South Carolina.
• Susan Forgan, is an American author and that specializes in the works of Thomas Paine and the Revolutionary War period.

Other surnames

Forgason