Surname Raglan - Meaning and Origin

Raglan: What does the surname Raglan mean?

Raglan is a surname of Welsh origin, derived from the name of a village in Monmouthshire, Wales. The term "Raglan" itself is believed to come from two Welsh words 'rhag' and 'glan', which translate to 'at the end' and 'on the bank', pointing towards the geographic location of the village near a river bank. The name is most famously associated with Lord Raglan, a British military officer during the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War. The loose-fitting raglan sleeve is also named after him, reflecting his need for a comfortable design after losing an arm in battle. Like many surnames, Raglan possibly started out as a geographic identifier, given to individuals coming from the village, which later turned into a family name. However, the interpretation and the naming customs can differ based on regional and cultural contexts. Apart from its historical and geographical significance, the name Raglan does not carry a specific symbolic or metaphorical meaning.

Raglan: Where does the name Raglan come from?

The last name Raglan is primarily found in the United Kingdom. According to the research service Ancestry, it is one of the more common last names in England and Wales and has been found primarily in that region for at least 800 years. It is particularly prevalent in English counties such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. It is believed to have developed from a toponymic surname, referring to a town in Wales called Raglan.

More recently, the Raglan surname has spread to other parts of the world. It is now common in the United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This is likely due to emigration of the British people, as well as marriage outside of the United Kingdom.

The meaning of the last name Raglan is uncertain, but it may refer to the Anglo-Norman castle that dates to the 11th century. That castle was the seat of the powerful Neville family, and its name may be derived from the Welsh “rhag-llan”, which means “the rounded promontory”.

Variations of the surname Raglan

The surname Raglan is of Anglo-Norman origin and is derived from the place name ‘Ragles’, that could be found in the counties of Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. Raglan is a popular name in Ireland and is known to have been used as a surname as early as the 1400s.

The variants of the Raglan surname include Ragle, Ragleane, Reglan, Riggle, Riggles, Riggalls, Reglans, Rajle, Rajleane, Ragale, Ragalene, Raglanne, Raglen, Raglenne, and Ragline.

spellings Raglan, Ragle, Ragale, Raglen, Raglenne, Ragleane, Regln, Rajle, and Rajleane

Surnames of the same origin include Riggle, Riggles, Riggalls, and Reglans.

The surname Raglan is most commonly found in Ireland, but is also found in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the Raglan surname is most concentrated in the states of Texas and Massachusetts. In Canada, the Raglan surname is most common in the province of Ontario.

The Raglan surname has strong ties with the Irish culture, with many being of Irish descent and having Celtic origins. It is believed the Raglan clan may be descended from Norman knights who settled in Ireland in the 11th century. The surname has also been associated with prominent figures throughout history, including Field Marshal Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, who served as a British general in the Crimean War.

Famous people with the name Raglan

• Fitzroy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan: an English soldier best known for his command in the Battle of Waterloo and the Crimean War.
• Bertram Fletcher Robinson: an English newspaper journalist, writer and sportsman, best known for his relationship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
• Sammy Winwood: a British singer-songwriter and guitarist.
• Sir Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet: an English admiral considered to have been a hero of the Battle of the Nile.
• Charles Griffin: an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his acts of bravery in World War I.
• Lord John Vaughan-Raglan: a British politician, diplomat and aide to the Queen Victoria.
• General Sir Howard Elphinstone: an English general best known for his service in the Crimean War.
• Lord Raglan: the British field marshall who became commander of the British forces in the Crimean War.
• Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey: a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• Sir Charles Beauclerk, 1st Baronet: an English soldier and peer who served as an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington.

Other surnames

Ragland