Surname O'madadhain - Meaning and Origin
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O'madadhain: What does the surname O'madadhain mean?
The last name O'Madadhain is an ancient Irish name. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Madadhaín, which is composed of two elements: Ó, which translates as "descendant/grandson", and Madadhaín, which is derived from the personal name Madadhán. Madadhán is likely derived from the Irish word madadh, which means "dog" or "hound".
The O'Madadhaín family is believed to have originated in County Mayo in the west of Ireland. The earliest records of the family date back to 1591, when the Dublin poet Domhnall Ó Madadhaín (Donald O'Madden) was recorded.
The O'Madadhain family is still quite common in Ireland today, and has spread to many other countries including the United States and other parts of the world. It remains a proud Irish surname and a mark of a rich and vibrant history.
The O'Madadhain family is quite likely to be descended from chieftains or other noble figures of old, as evidenced by the name and the pedigree associated with it. The name is a proud badge of honour for those that bear it and an important part of Irish history and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisO'madadhain: Where does the name O'madadhain come from?
The last name O'MADADHAIN is most commonly found in Ireland today. Originally derived from an old Irish clan, O'MADADHAIN has been a prominent surname in the country for centuries. The family were prestigious warriors of old and have traditionally been well respected in Ireland, with many modern Irish citizens who have taken on the proud surname.
The name is also found in the United States, largely amongst those who trace their ancestry to the Irish diaspora of the 18th and 19th centuries. The surname can be found in many states, with the majority being located in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Michigan.
In recent years, the O'MADADHAIN clan has experienced a resurgence in Ireland, with many young people embracing their heritage and adopting the proud last name. This mostly relates to the Irish upswing in the diaspora, or the return of Irish people to their homeland in order to take part in the growing job opportunities in modern Ireland. The last name O'MADADHAIN has also seen a rise in the country over the past decade, with a noticeable amount of Irish people bearing the proud name.
Overall, the last name O'MADADHAIN is particularly common in Ireland, though it can occasionally be found in other parts of the world, thanks to the diaspora of Irish people leaving the country during the height of tumultuous activities in the late 18th to 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname O'madadhain
The variations of the Irish surname O’Madadhain (pronounced OMADAH-heen) are numerous, partly due to an old tradition of spelling an 'O' prefix before the surname and a wide variety of phonetic versions of the same name when it was written down by English-speaking officials.
The O’ prefix has been written as ‘Ó’, ‘O’, ‘O’, ‘Mc’, and ‘M’, while the base ‘Madadhain’ has variations including O’Maddan, O’Madaden, O’Maddhan, O’Madighan, O’Madagain, O’Madaghan, O’Meadewen, O’Maddhachaí, O’Maddereen, and O’Maddraoin, among others.
One spelling of the surname with a distinct origin is MacAdam, which is derived from the Irish phrase ‘mac Adaim’ or ‘son of Adam’. This is likely an English diminutive of the more common O’Madadhain.
The following surnames are all variations of O’Madadhain, with some derivations that may have distinct regional origins:
Maddens: A derivation of the O’Madden or MacAdam surnames, this spelling is more common in Northern Ireland, particularly in the Counties Down and Antrim.
Madden: A variant of Maddens, found in the southern parts of Ireland, particularly in the Counties Cork and Waterford.
Maddan: This variant is more often associated with O’Maddan and is found all over Ireland, but is particularly prevalent in the west.
Meddens: A variant of Madden, found in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in Counties Donegal, Cavan, and Fermanagh.
Meddowen: A variant of O’Meadowen, which originated in County Mayo.
Meddowes: Another variant of O’Meadowen, found in the west of Ireland, particularly in the Counties Mayo and Galway.
Meddraoin: A variant of O’Maddraoin, found in the southwest, particularly in Counties Kerry and Limerick.
Meddrum: An Anglicized spelling of O’Maddrum, which is found in the northern parts of Ireland, particularly in Ulster.
McAdam: A similiar variant of MacAdam, found in the southeast of Ireland, mainly in Counties Wexford and Kilkenny.
Famous people with the name O'madadhain
- John O'Madadhain, actor and writer, best known for his role as soldiers in films such as The Railway Man and The Great Wall.
- Damian O'Madadhain, Irish filmmaker whose works include the Henry James adaptation The Wings of the Dove and the drama series The Tudors.
- Paul O'Madadhain, an Irish rugby player who was part of the golden generation of Irish rugby that won several Triple Crowns.
- Kevin O'Madadhain, an Irish writer and journalist who wrote for the Irish Times and Irish Independent.
- Liam O'Madadhain, an Irish television producer responsible for shows such as The Voice of Ireland and Love/Hate.
- Sinead O'Madadhain, an Irish actress best known for her portrayal of Molly McGee in the RTÉ series Ros na Rún.
- Celyn O'Madadhain, a Welsh singer-songwriter who has won awards for her work and released music under the name Celyn June.
- Marty O'Madadhain, an Irish comedian who has appeared on shows such as The Panel and Don't Feed The Gondolas.
- Darren O'Madadhain, an Irish barrister best known for his involvement in high profile legal cases involving celebrities and politicians.
- Maurice O'Madadhain, an Irish criminologist and lecturer in law at Trinity College Dublin.