Surname Horgan - Meaning and Origin
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Horgan: What does the surname Horgan mean?
The last name Horgan is a variant of the Irish name O'Horgan, which is derived from the Medieval Gaelic name Ó hAonghusa. This name is composed of the elements “Aon”, meaning “one”, and “ghus”, which refers to “choice” or “noble”. Thus, the name translates to “one chosen”, “noble one”, or “noble choice”.
The Horgan surname is likely to have originated in County Cork in Ireland, and is found in multiple countries, including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and England. The many variants of the name reflect the migrations of the family and the effects of Anglicization. For example, the name is usually found as O'Horgan and Horgan in Ireland, while other variations include Horrigan, Origan, Heargan, and O'Heargan.
The Horgan family has a long history with some of the earliest members being recorded in Irish historical records. The earliest was believed to be Dermod O'Horgan from County Cork recorded in 1172, and Donogh O'Horgan in 1450. The family was well-known for being patrons of the arts and renowned for their poetry.
The Horgan family has been well established in many countries across the world, and to this day, there are many members of the family. It is an ancient and unique name, and it carries a sense of honour and pride with it. The meaning and legacy of the name have been kept alive for centuries and will continue to live on for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisHorgan: Where does the name Horgan come from?
The last name Horgan is common in primarily two regions. The first is in the country of Ireland. In Irish families, Horgan is derived from the Gaelic O hArgain, meaning “descendant of the riding man” or “horse breeder." It is found throughout the Emerald Isle and is particularly common in Cork.
In the United States, Horgan is a much less common last name than in Ireland. This could be attributed to the fact that Irish immigration to the US happened in stages, with Horgan likely being a more recent addition. (190 words)
Despite its rarity, Horgan can still be found throughout the US, most commonly in the states of Massachusetts, Oregon and New York. Massachusetts and Oregon are both states with established Irish-American communities, while New York City is where many Irish individuals migrated to after the potato famine of the 1840s.
The surname Horgan is also found among US citizens of different ethnic backgrounds, as other immigrants have adopted the name as their own over the years. (196 words)
Variations of the surname Horgan
The surname Horgan has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common form of the name is O'Horgan, which is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó hArgáin, meaning "descendant of Argán." The other variants include Horgan, O'Horgan, Hargan, O'Hargan, Horgane, Horgin, Organ, and Organe.
These variants may be a result of British attempts to anglicize Irish names in the 18th and 19th centuries. The surname can be found in both Ireland and the United Kingdom today. It is usually found in the southwest of Ireland in counties such as Kerry, Cork, and Waterford.
The surname is also quite common in England and Scotland, particularly in the Midlands region. The variants Organ and Organe may have derived from the Anglo-Norman surname de l'Organ, which is derived from the Old French for "close, residence".
In the United States, the surname is often found as Hogan. This is an Americanized form of the surname, derived from the Irish Ó hÓgáin. The variants Horgin and Hargin are also found in the US, although they are very rare.
Overall, the most common variants of the surname Horgan are O'Horgan, Horgan, and Hogan.
Famous people with the name Horgan
- Chris O’Dowd (Irish actor)
- Mackenzie Davis (Canadian actress)
- Ellen Horgan (Irish artist, curator, and educator)
- Simon Horgan ( Rugby player for Munster and Ireland)
- Mark Horgan (former goalkeeper for Cork City FC)
- Brendan Horgan (Solicitor and International Rugby Player)
- Billy Horgan (Irish hurler)
- Darragh Horgan (Irish cricketer)
- Pat Horgan (Cork hurler)
- Jack Horgan-Jones (Rugby league player)
- David Horgan (Irish rugby union player)
- Tommy Horgan (former GAA footballer)
- Ray Horgan (motorcycle racer)
- Joe Horgan (hurler for Cork)
- Fintan Horgan (Irish actor)