Surname Havigan - Meaning and Origin

Havigan: What does the surname Havigan mean?

The last name Havigan can be traced back to the Gaelic phrase “O’hEafagain” which in English translates to “descendants of Eagan” and has been found in counties Clare, Kerry and Tipperary in Ireland. The name is believed to have originated from the 11th century Gaelic personal name “Eagan”, which is a derivative of the Gaelic name “Aedhagain”, which is derived from the word “Aedh” meaning “fire”.

The Havigan family is regarded as having a proud and strong heritage and are renowned for being generous, independent individuals with good leadership qualities. The first Havigan in the United States was James Havigan, who settled in Virginia in 1622. Many Havigans today still live in Virginia as well as Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The name Havigan is strongly linked to its Irish heritage and those who bear the name usually display a deep pride in their heritage. Many Havigans keep the Irish traditions and culture in their family to keep the bond between the generations alive. The focus of the Havigan family lies in cherishing the values of friendship, loyalty and hospitality, and these values are passed down from generation to generation.

Therefore, the name Havigan originates from an old and rich family heritage, that has been present for centuries, and still strongly connects the family today. People with this surname are proud of their Irish background and strive to uphold the values and traditions passed down from their forefathers.

Havigan: Where does the name Havigan come from?

The last name Havigan is most commonly found in parts of Ireland and England. It is believed to arise from the Irish surname Ó hÁghna, which in turn is derived from the forename Ághna. The origin of the forename is unknown, but it is thought to mean something along the lines of 'young man or lad' in ancient Irish. The name is most frequently found across Ulster, especially in counties Antrim, Derry, and Down, as well as in the North of England, particularly Lancashire, where there are a few small enclaves.

As migration increased, more of the Havigans spread to other countries, such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. In the US, it is most frequent across the eastern half, including areas such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. It is also fairly common in other English-speaking countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, and parts of Australia.

Today, the name Havigan is still more common in Ireland, the UK, and English-speaking countries, relatively popular in the US, Canada, and across the Irish diaspora. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 individuals with the name across the world, most from a shared heritage.

Variations of the surname Havigan

The surname Havigan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surname Ó hAodhagáin, meaning “descendant of Aodhagán”. Aodhagán is the Irish form of the given name Aodh, which means “fire” in Gaelic. The surname Havigan has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of Havigan is Hevigan. This variant is more prevalent outside of Ireland, particularly in the United States. Other variants include Havican, Havickan, Havegan, Hevican, Hevickan, and Havegen.

The surname Havigan can also be spelled in various ways, including Havaggan, Heviggan, Havygan, Hevygan, Havikin, Hevikin, and Haviggan. This is due to a tendency of Irish surnames to be spelled incorrectly on official documents due to the language barrier and difficulty in deciphering Irish names.

As for surnames of the same origin, the most common ones are Hagan, Hagen, and Heagan. There are also several other surnames of the same root, such as Heggan, Heggane, Hagane, Higgan, Heggann, Higgans, and Heagean.

In short, the surname Havigan has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. It is important to do research on the surnames in order to determine which one is accurate based on the family’s heritage and geography.

Famous people with the name Havigan

• David Hayman: Scottish actor, director, writer and human rights campaigner.
• Gerard Havigan: World War II veteran and Executive Officer of the USS Missouri.
• Connor Havigan: American singer-songwriter and musician.
• Alana Havigan: British actress.
• Lillian Havigan: American women’s rights advocate and suffragette.
• Peter Havigan: Irish playwright, producer and director.
• Andrew Havigan: Australian professional rugby league footballer.
• Liam Havigan: American author and academic.
• Kenneth Havigan: British merchant navy sailor and radio officer.
• Martin Havigan: Irish horse racing trainer.

Other surnames

Havighorst