Surname Moneghan - Meaning and Origin
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Moneghan: What does the surname Moneghan mean?
The origin of the last name Moneghan is rooted in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Moneghan is an anglicised variation of the Gaelic name Ó Manacháin, which originated in the Leinster province of Ireland and was a sept or branch of the larger surname Ó Manacháin. The name is derived from the Irish word menachán, which was the name of an early sixth century Irish monk in County Cork, Ireland.
The surname Moneghan originally designated a person descended from the Ó Manacháin family, which were a group of Irish-Gaelic nobility noted for their horse breeding and trading. It has been suggested by some historians that the Moneghan surname is most closely associated with the people of Co. Carlow, Ireland.
In Gaelic culture the meaning of the Moneghan surname typically refers to honor, respect and loyalty. The surname is still prominent in modern-day Ireland, with the vast majority of the Irish who carry the surname living in and around the counties of Carlow, Wexford, and Dublin.
The surname Moneghan is also found in Scotland with a much smaller presence and is believed to have arrived to the country via Irish migration. The surname is not as widely dispersed in Scotland as it is in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMoneghan: Where does the name Moneghan come from?
The last name Moneghan is a somewhat uncommon Irish surname. It is believed to have originated in County Mayo in the mid-1700s, during the expansion of the Mayo Clan into areas such as Galway, Roscommon, and Donegal. Today, the surname is largely concentrated in Ireland, with pockets of the Irish diaspora in places such as Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. According to reports, the last name Moneghan is most common in Cork, followed by Dublin, Mayo, and most rural areas of Ireland. This is due to the increased Irish diaspora over the past few centuries. The surname is also fairly common in the United States, especially in pockets of Irish Americans in places such as Massachusetts, New York, and California.
The surname Moneghan is derived from the Irish first name "Muírneacháin," which is actually a shortened version of the longer Irish personal name "Muírínachán." Over time, the name evolved and morphed into its modern iteration, Moneghan. The meaning of the name Moneghan pertains to an individual who is either the son of Muírneacháin, or to someone who is a descendant of Muírneacháin, the ancestor of the modern day Moneghan family surname.
Variations of the surname Moneghan
Moneghan is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Maonaigh (meaning 'grandson of the noble one'). Variants and spellings of this surname include O'Moneghan, Monaghan, Monighan, Monahan, Monighan, Monighon, Monihan, Managhan, Mooneghan, Mooneghane, Monaghan, Monaahan, Monahane and Monehan.
The pronunciation of Moneghan can vary depending on regional dialects, from Mon-eh-ghan to Mon-og-han, and the spelling is sometimes used interchangeably with variations including Monaghan and Monigen/Monegen. Common changes to the spelling include O’Moneghan, O’Monegan, O’Monagan, and O’Monighan.
Moneghan is a fairly common surname, with the majority of families living in Northern Ireland. There are also several families with this surname in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, all of which are believed to be descendents of Irish immigrants.
The Monaghan variant is particularly popular. This variant is the most popular spelling of the Moneghan surname and is used in many countries including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This spelling is often found in official records dating back to the 1700s.
The McCarthy clan, also of Irish origin, have a variation of this surname -- Mannaghan (meaning "grandson of the noble one"). This variant is less common than the Moneghan or Monaghan variants, but is still frequently found in Ireland.
Moneghan is an ancient Irish surname with roots reaching back to ancient Ireland. Families bearing this surname can trace their genealogy back centuries, making it a fascinating name to explore and research.
Famous people with the name Moneghan
- Emilie Moneghan, an Irish actress known for her role in the television series Ripper Street.
- Saoirse Moneghan, an Irish sports journalist working for BT Sport.
- Tony Moneghan, a British sports presenter and media personality who is well known for his work on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
- Declan Moneghan, an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame after the release of his debut album, Adventures in my Heart.
- Eoin Moneghan, an Irish actor who is best known for his roles on Irish television series such as Fair City and The Doireann Project.
- Mark Moneghan, the current president of the Republic of Ireland Football Association and a former Irish National Team Coach.
- Patrick Moneghan, a former Irish footballer who featured in the Irish Premier Division for many years.
- Colm Moneghan, an Irish entrepreneur and philanthropist who has made a significant impact on the Irish economy through his various businesses.
- Gavin Moneghan, a multi-instrumentalist from Ireland who is currently the lead singer for an indie rock band called The Flaming Colours.
- Conor Moneghan, an Irish filmmaker and writer who is well known for his short films which have been featured at various international film festivals.