Surname Wogan - Meaning and Origin

Wogan: What does the surname Wogan mean?

The surname Wogan is of Welsh origin, originating from the Welsh word "Gwgan" which means "bow" or "bend". Thus, it could possibly be symbolic of a skill as a bowman or an individual who lived in a curved or bowed geographical feature. It is also found in Irish families, derived from the Gaelic term "O' Gogain" meaning "descendants of Gogan". Gogan itself translates to "a littler smith" or "Smith's son", suggesting the ancestors of this name were blacksmiths or their apprentices. Like many surnames of older date, variations exist due to linguistic shifts and clerical spelling inconsistencies, such as Wogand, Woggan, Wogen, and Gogan. A prominent figure with this surname is Terry Wogan, a British-Irish radio and television broadcaster who was one of the UK's most famous and endeared media personalities.

Wogan: Where does the name Wogan come from?

The last name Wogan is most common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is also seen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, Wogan is a name that can be traced back to the Welsh language. It probably originated as a diminutive form of the Welsh word “gwogawn”, which means “little smith”. The name is still common in Wales and the surrounding areas of Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire. It is also seen in Scotland.

In Ireland, Wogan is primarily found in the southern province of Munster. It is believed to be derived from the Irish surname O’Dubhagain, meaning the ‘grandson of Dubhagain’.

In Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, Wogan is a more recent name. It is assumed to have been brought over during the early waves of emigration by people of Irish and Welsh origin.

Today, the name Wogan can be found all over the world in varied forms and is most common in the countries from which it originates.

Variations of the surname Wogan

The surname Wogan (sometimes spelled Wogan, Waughan, Waggon, Waghorn, Watten, or Wotton) is derived from the Irish name Ó Fōgáin, meaning "descendants of Fógán". Fógán is derived from fó, meaning "hair", and gán, meaning "warrior".

The name is most commonly found in County Tipperary, where it was primarily associated with the territory of Uí Fheogáin. Along with the Wogans, the family name Ua Fheogáin was used by a number of closely related families in the area, including Ua Domhnaill, Ua Dubhda, and Ua Flannagain.

Variations of the name found in other parts of Ireland include Waughan, Waughan, Waughon, Waugan and Waggon in the province of Connacht; Woton, Wootton and Wotton in County Galway; Watten in County Mayo and Waston and Waiston in County Sligo.

Variations of the name found in Scotland include Wauchan, Waughan, Wauchon, Wochane, and Wachon. It is also found as Waugham and Waugham in the Orkneys.

In the United States, some families anglicised their surname to Wogan or Wagner, and some adopted the Americanized version of the name “Wagner”. In England, the spelling was often anglicised to Waughan.

Famous people with the name Wogan

• Terry Wogan (1938-2016): British radio and TV personality and national icon, well-known for his irreverent humour and for hosting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show from 1972-1984, and again from 1993-2009.
• Tom Wogan (1929: 2016): British chat-show host, most recently the presenter of BBC Radio 2's 'Wake Up with Wogan' show.
• Jeremy Wogan: British personal development coach.
• Stephen Wogan (1958: 2013): British historian and author, most well-known for his work on the history of the Reform Act of 1832.
• Sean Wogan (born 1988): Irish footballer who currently plays for Waterford in the League of Ireland.
• Micheál Wogan (1907-1953): Irish footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
• Richard Wogan (1615-1653): British civil servant and politician, who served as a Member of Parliament for Radnor in Wales in the 1640s.
• Charles Wogan (1783-1858): Irish politician and landowner, who served in the Irish House of Commons from 1798 until 1801.
• Michael Wogan: New Zealand television and radio presenter, most well-known for his work on Breakfast TV on TVOne.
• Mike Wogan (1913-2011): Irish tug-of-war champion, who won a gold medal representing Ireland at the 1948 Olympic Games.

Other surnames

Wogalter