Surname Monagan - Meaning and Origin

Monagan: What does the surname Monagan mean?

The surname Monagan is of Irish origin and is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolagáin, which comes from the Gaelic personal name Maolagáin, which consists of the elements maol, which means "bald" and the diminutive suffix -agán. Monagan is most commonly found in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht.

The first recorded occurrence of the surname was with Eóin Uí Maolagáin, who was a rector in the parish of Magh Sometimes in County Donegal in the middle of the 16th century. Monagan is also found as a variant of Mulvihill.

The Irish surnames, Monagan, Mulvihill, and O'Mulligan are all derived from the Gaelic O Maolagáin. It is thought that there were several unrelated families who adopted the same surname. Throughout Ireland, the name is most frequently found in the counties of Donegal and Sligo.

The modern Irish surname Monagan is traditionally thought to signify “the descendant of the bald one”, most likely referring to a clan leader that was recognized by his baldness. Today, there are many spelling variations of the original surname, such as Mulligan, Mullican, Mulvihill, and many others.

The Monagans today continue to represent the proud Irish heritage and still reside mainly in County Donegal and across the Irish diaspora.

Monagan: Where does the name Monagan come from?

The last name Monagan is most often seen in the United States and Canada, but it has spread to other countries throughout the world as well. In the U.S., Monagan is believed to have originated in Pennsylvania and New York, but in more recent years, the name is seen in other states such as California, Texas and New Jersey, as the family has moved and diversified. Significant Monagan populations can be found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

It is a very common name throughout the UK - the most recent 2016 data from العالمت commands that Monagan is the 99th most common surname. It is also fairly popular in Ireland, as it is the 104th most popular surnames in Ireland. In Australia, the name is the 483rd most common, and in New Zealand it was the 150th most common in 2017. Canada is known to have a large population of Monagans, as it was the 138th most popular surname in 2011.

The origins of the name Monagan have been suggested to be of Irish, Scots-Irish, and Scottish origin. Most Monagans in the US can trace their ancestry back to Ulster, the northernmost province of Ireland. The name was likely derived from the Gaelic “O’Monachain,” meaning “son of the monk”. Aside from that, there have not been any other notable Monagans in popular culture.

Variations of the surname Monagan

Monagan is a surname of Irish origin. In its traditional Irish form, the surname is spelled "Ó Mongáin." The Anglophone variants of this name include Monahan, Monaghan, Muangan, Mangan, and Mongan. Monaghan is the most common spelling of the name in Ireland today.

In Scotland, the surname Monaghan is sometimes spelled Monachan, Moneghan, or Monnocken. Variants of the surname Monaghan can be found in other parts of the world as well, with different spellings and variants that reflect the language usage and local dialects. This includes such forms as Makhan, Moagham, and Moogam in India, Monhagen in Germany, and Mugan in Russia.

In the United States, the variant forms of Monaghan include Mahon, Magon, Mammongan, Meehan, and Mungan. Some of the spellings of the name originated in the United States, such as Macomack, Marmakan, and Munnegan. Other American variants include Mimghen, Monahen, Moranghen, and Mougan.

In summary, there are numerous variants and spellings of the Monaghan surname, and these variants are reflective of the migrations and cultural exchanges that have taken place over time. Many of these variants still exist today, while some have since gone extinct.

Famous people with the name Monagan

• Chris Monagan: baseball player and coach
• Sean Monagan: basketball coach
• Eamonn Monagan: Irish footballer
• Rory Monagan: American actor
• Alex Monagan: Meteorologist
• Mike Monagan: Radio personality
• Louise Monagan: Canadian historian
• Rory Monaghan: Irish painter
• Ellen Monagan: Artist and designer
• Sean Monaghan: Comedian
• Sam Monagan: American musician
• Brian Monaghan: American journalist
• Kristina Monagan: Physicist
• Ty Monagan: Singer and songwriter
• Jack Monagan: American stuntman

Other surnames

Monaghan