Surname O'Bigin - Meaning and Origin
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O'Bigin: What does the surname O'Bigin mean?
The last name O'Bigin is of Irish origin and is an Anglicized form of the traditional Irish surname O'Bhigín or 'grandson of the small one'. This surname was derived from the Irish word 'beag' which means 'small'. It is thought that the original families who carried the surname were descended from a small chieftain who had lands in County Cork and that the name was taken to commemorate him.
The O'Bigin family was initially found in counties Cork, Wexford and Limerick, however it now found all over Ireland. In the mid 1700s, members of this family also began to travel overseas to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, which is why it is now found all over the world.
The family motto is 'Cormacacht Agóid' which translates to 'tested and faithful in cormac'. This reflects the family's pride in their heritage and the belief that they have remained true to their roots. This motto encapsulates both the importance of loyalty and the importance of the heritage of the O'Bigin family.
Today, the O'Bigin family is widely respected for its proud heritage and distinctive family name. In addition to being a part of the Irish diaspora, the family are also remembered for their strong sense of loyalty and tradition. The name O'Bigin and the family motto still continue to be passed on through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Bigin: Where does the name O'Bigin come from?
The last name O'Bigin is most commonly found in Irish and Scottish populations, particularly those with strong ancestral ties to the areas. It is a patronymic or anglicised version of the surname of Ó Beagain, which originates from County Galway in Ireland. The literal translation of the Gaelic (Gaeilge) name is "descendant of Beagán" and its bearers likely settled in the area between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Today, the surname O'Bigin is primarily found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In the United States, they are mainly concentrated in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana, and other states with a high concentration of Irish Americans. Beyond these regions, the surname is uncommon though there are some bearers around the world.
The most noteworthy bearer of the name was Dr. John O'Bigin, the first Irish immigrant to arrive in St. Louis, Missouri in 1838 and set up the city's first medical practice. He also served as the City Viewer in St. Louis, creating a map of the city that enabled the development of the downtown area. The family name O'Bigin has been memorialized in St. Louis with the O'Bigin Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Variations of the surname O'Bigin
The surname O'Bigin has a long and storied past. This Irish surname goes by several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin, some of which include: O'Beggan, O'Beggane, O'Begain, O'Biggan, O'Bigney, O'Bigine, O'Bhegaine, and O'Bigeaine.
The O'Bigin surname has origins that date back to the 13th century in the Province of Ulster, in the northwest of modern-day Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic family name O'Beoagain. The earliest recorded usage of the name dates to a man with the surname Bigin from a place called Kilmore, which is located in County Donegal.
The O'Bigin name has spread to a variety of parts of the world. For example, immigrants bearing the name arrived in the United States of America in the 18th and 19th centuries in search of a new life as a result of the potato famine in their native Ireland. Those bearing the surname can now be found in other parts of the English-speaking world including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
The O'Bigin surname has also been notably used not only by members of the Irish community but also by members of the Scottish and English community. It is believed to be derived from the surname Beegan, which is of a Scottish origin. This is one of the reasons why the name has been vastly adopted, as the two families have relations to each other throughout the centuries.
Overall, the O'Bigin surname and its variants have a long and varied history and its various spellings and surnames of the same origin attest to the extent of its pedigree and spread throughout the world.
Famous people with the name O'Bigin
- Mary O’Bigin, Irish Paralympic gold medalist
- Aiden O’Bigin, English rugby player
- Colm O’Bigin, former Mayor of Dublin
- Valerie O’Bigin, award-winning British animator
- Sharon O’Bigin, vocalist andBeatles tribute artist
- Brían O’Bigin, Irish folk musician
- Nóra O’Bigin, actress
- Padraig O’Bigin, Irish-American boxer
- Rory O’Bigin, novelist and theatre director
- Máire O’Bigin, sculptor and painter.