Surname McEgan - Meaning and Origin
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McEgan: What does the surname McEgan mean?
The surname McEgan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodhagáin." Broken down, "Mac" means "son of" and "Aodhagáin" is a diminutive of "Aodh," a popular Irish personal name. "Aodh" means "fire" and in Irish mythology, Aodh is the Celtic sun god. The name dropped out of use in the 17th century but has been revived in the modern era as Aidan, Aodhán, and Aogán in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The McEgan families were hereditary lawyers and scholars to distinguished families and clans of Munster. They were particularly associated with the MacCarthys in the south of Ireland. The McEgans had their own law school before the English conquest in County Tipperary. The surname continues to exist today in both the original 'Mac' and abbreviated 'Mc' forms, with numerous bearers found in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Tipperary. Therefore, the surname McEgan can be interpreted as "son of Aodhagáin" or "descendant of the follower of the fire god."
Order DNA origin analysisMcEgan: Where does the name McEgan come from?
The surname McEgan is of Irish origin, being an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Mac Aodhagáin,' which translates as 'son of Aodhagán.' The name Aodhagán itself is a diminutive of 'Aodh,' meaning 'fire' and often a reference to the pagan god Aodh. The McEgan family was a learned clan well-known for their roles as hereditary lawyers, scholars, and teachers, particularly during the Middle Ages.
Today, this surname can still be found in Ireland, especially in the province of Munster in southern Ireland, where the clan originally held lands. The name is also rather common in counties Tipperary and Cork. The anglicization and dispersion due to various factors like the Great Famine and Irish emigrations have led to the spread of the name in other parts of the world. Therefore, you're also likely to find people bearing the surname McEgan in regions with a significant Irish diaspora such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, despite its spread, it remains less common compared to other Irish surnames.
Variations of the surname McEgan
The surname McEgan is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Aodhagáin. Several different spellings and variants of this name have developed over time, given possible localization factors, change in languages, and Anglicization. This often occurred when families emigrated to English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada or Australia.
Some common variants include Egan, Keegan, MacEgan, Mageegan, and Eagan. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" denotes 'son of', while "O" typically signifies 'descendant of'. Therefore, you might also find O’Egan, O’Keegan variants depending on whether they descended from Aodhagáin.
In some areas, people dropped the prefixes and used just Egan or Keegan. Additionally, the surname could also be found with minor spelling modifications, such as Egen or Egin, and sometimes Anglicised further to Hegan or Hagen.
Processes like Anglicization have led to many variants of the original Irish surnames. Therefore, it is important to remember that although they may appear to be different names, they might root from the same family. It’s possible that different branches of a family tree chose to spell their name differently over time.
Famous people with the name McEgan
There does not appear to be any globally famous people with the last name McEgan. This could be due to it being a relatively rare last name, or individuals who hold the last name may not be public figures. There are named entities such as the McEgan College, a university located in Macroom, Ireland, which is well-known locally. However, one historically significant figure is Sean McEgan, a former Irish nationalist politician and prominent member of Sinn Féin in the early 20th century. In modern times, some individuals named McEgan work in various fields, but there are none currently listed as global celebrities or significantly well-known figures.