Surname Organ - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Organ: What does the surname Organ mean?
The last name Organ is thought to be an Old English or Anglo-Saxon name originating from the pre-7th century word ‘organ’. The Old English word 'organ' itself would have originally been derived from the Latin word 'organum', meaning 'tool'. This is thought to refer to someone who was skilled in the use of musical instruments such as the organ.
From a surname perspective, it is thought that the name Organ may also have elliptical origins i.e.descendants of a Norman noble named 'Organ' who came over to Britain around the 11th century during the Norman Conquest of England. His descendants then adopted his surname as their own and people with the name Organ are likely descendants of that Norman noble.
During the Middle Ages, the Organ family would have been highly regarded within their local area, and may have held influential positions such as clergymen, merchants or powerful landowners. The Organ family motto ‘Virtutis Gloria Merces’ which roughly translates as ‘The Glory is the Reward of Virtue’ is indicative of this.
Given that Organ is a relatively uncommon surname, it is likely that, although the name could be found in certain geographic areas, people with the surname Organ are most likely to have a common ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisOrgan: Where does the name Organ come from?
The Organ surname is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the majority of Organs are concentrated in the south, particularly in the states of Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The states with the most Organs are Washington, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Missouri.
The Organ surname is also relatively common in the United Kingdom, especially in the east of England, as well as in several other countries. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, the Organs surname is the 113th most common last name in England and Wales. It ranks higher in Scotland (64th), Northern Ireland (65th), and Canada (85th).
In the U.S., the Organ surname has usually derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “organ,” meaning “gazelle.” The surname was likely given by English settlers to a person who was thought to resemble a graceful gazelle. Other sources suggest that it could have also been given to someone who was believed to be dainty or seemingly light on their feet.
In Scotland, the surname could have originated from the Gaelic word for “green hill.” It may have been given to someone who lived in or near a “green hill.”
In Ireland, the surname may have come from an English settler and referred to someone living near a river or stream.
Overall, the Organ surname is relatively common in the United States, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom today.
Variations of the surname Organ
The Organ surname can vary in spelling and variant forms, and take on several surnames of similar origin. Some of the more common spellings are Organe, Orgain, Orgen, Organe, Orgaine and Orgaines. In some cases, Organ may changed to variants such as Oran, Orrin, Orin, Oren, Orban, Organa, Oram, Oran, Orrant, and Organo.
The Organ surname is thought to be of English origins, derived either from an Anglo-Saxon personal name Organedo, a variant of Organwald, meaning “old and wise”; or the English place-name Organford, which means “upper ford”. It may also be related to the Irish surname Ó Muirghein, derived from the Gaelic word meaning “sea-born”.
Organ has also been found in Scotland, where it is thought to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Giollarnáth, which is from the Gaelic meaning “son of the messenger”. In some cases, the Organ surname may also be of French origins, derived from the French name Orgagne, derived from the Latin organista, meaning “organist”.
Organ may also be found as a spelling variation of Urquhart, which is from a location in Scotland. It is thought to be derived from a Pictish component, wer, meaning “high”, and garth, meaning “stronghold”.
Finally, Organ may be found in the United States as an Americanized spelling of the German surname Organ, derived from a personal name Organo, a form of Arnold. This surname was brought to America by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th century.
Overall, the Organ surname can take on many spellings and origin stories, and is an interesting example of the varied spellings and origins that one surname can have.
Famous people with the name Organ
- Mary Organ: British suffragette and feminist
- Barb Organ: Canadian singer/songwriter
- Justin Organ: American actor
- Lucy Organ: English professional cricketer
- Tim Organ: Australian actor
- Alan Organ: New Zealand artist
- Gloria Organ: Irish Paralympian
- Patricia Organ: British illustrator
- Gregory Organ: British musician
- Phillip Organ: Canadian psychologist
- Edward Organ: American theologian
- Louis Organ: French impressionist painter
- Karoline Organ: Norwegian nature photographer
- Donald Organ: Scottish civil engineer
- Anthony Organ: Italian architect
- Claude Organ: Belgian sculptor
- Robert Organ: Dutch architect
- Wanda Organ: Polish political leader
- Anita Organ: Danish fashion designer
- James Organ: Icelandic businessman