Surname Reegan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Reegan: What does the surname Reegan mean?
The last name Reegan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Riagain" or "O'Riagáin." It mainly originates from counties Meath and Dublin in Ireland. The meaning of Reegan is often interpreted as "little king" or "the king's child". The name suggests characteristics of leadership, control, and authority, reflecting a person who is resourceful and adaptable. In the past, surnames often indicated a person's profession, place of residence, or a descriptive aspect of the individual. In the case of Reegan, it possibly denoted a familial link or close relationship to a king or a figure of authority, emphasizing the family's prominence and the individual's potential for leadership. However, it's essential to remember that meanings can significantly vary across different regions and cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisReegan: Where does the name Reegan come from?
The last name Reegan is an old Irish name with multiple variations including Regan, Reagan, and O’Regan. In Ireland today, the name is primarily found in counties Clare, Cork, and Tipperary. Outside of Ireland, the name can be found in both the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the last name Reegan is most common in the northeastern states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It is taking a particularly strong foothold in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Conversely, it is more spread out throughout the plains and western states.
In Canada, the Reegan surname is most common in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta. Ontario alone is home to about a third of all Canadians with the Reegan name – meaning the surname has taken especially deep root in the province.
Overall, the last name Reegan is truly a worldwide name with deep roots in the Irish countryside. Furthermore, the name is growing, with a migration of families bearing the Reegan surname traveling to new countries, cities, and even continents.
Variations of the surname Reegan
The surname Reegan is an anglicized version of the Irish surname O’Riagain, which belongs to the Ui Riagain sept in County Offaly, Ireland. In Anglicized form, the name is most commonly spelled Reegan, but can also appear as Regan, Reagan, Reghan, Raegan, and Regann.
Reegan and Regan are the two most common variations of this name. Regan is derived from the Old Irish name Raghnall, which means royal, and is found most commonly in counties Galway, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry.
The Reegan spelling of the name has Papal dispensations from the late 1800’s, as the family was actively involved in the Church and in local politics during that time. During that same period, many anglicized versions of the name, such as Reagan and Raegan, appeared with members of the family in the United States.
Regardless of the spelling used, all variations of the surname Reegan have the same meaning and origin. The Ui Riagain sept were originally the Ó Ríagain, which in Irish-Gaelic means “descendant of Riagain.”
Other notable surnames with the same origin include O’Riagain, O’Regan, Riagain, Ragain, Reangan, Reganon, Reganne, Reagayne, Reaghen, Riagan, Reganan, Reganin, Regano, Reagann, Riagan and Regane.
Famous people with the name Reegan
- Jack Regan: British actor who starred in films, including The Sweeney, Zulu and The Dirty Dozen.
- Kristin Regan: American figure skater, noted for her participation in the 1991 Sofia World Figure Skating Championships.
- Jim Regan: English professional footballer who played for- Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall.
- Deborah Regan: Canadian actress and singer who is known for her roles in films such as The Craft and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
- Dylan Regan: American model and actor who had minor appearances in films such as The Princess Diaries and Freaky Friday.
- Pat Regan: American voice actor who has provided his voice to several video games and animated television shows.
- David Regan: British film producer and composer who wrote the score for the 2001 animated movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
- Kevin Regan: American professional soccer player who has played for the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
- Corinne Regan: British photographer who is noted for her portraiture and documentary film making.
- Anthony Regan: English-born American actor who has had numerous roles in Broadway musicals, films, and television series.