CREHAN
The surname Crehan is a name of Gaelic origin that can be traced back to the western part of Ireland, particularly the counties of Galway, Roscommon and Clare. It has been recorded in the British Isles since at least the early seventeenth century, when individuals bearing the name settled in England and other parts of Europe.
The name is derived from the Gaelic patronymic Ó Croidheagáin, which translates literally as “descendant of Croidheagán.” The personal name Croidheagán is a diminutive of the Gaelic word croidhe, meaning “heart.” Consequently, the surname has historically been regarded as a nickname for a person who possessed a kind or warm heart.
In some scholarly accounts the surname is also linked to a variant form, O'Croidheain, and to O’Criochan, the latter of which suggests a meaning related to a boundary or frontier. While the latter interpretation is less widely accepted, the primary etymology remains that of a “little heart” or beloved descendant of a gentle individual.
Throughout its history the surname has appeared in numerous orthographic variations. These include Crean, Creen, Creegan, Creehan, Crefan, Cregan, Creggan, Creagan and Creighan. The multiplicity of spellings arose from the phonetic translation of Gaelic sounds into English over several centuries.
The earliest surviving record of the family name is that of Margaret Cragen, who was christened on 1 November 1618 at St. Margaret’s Church in Westminster, England. Subsequent church records from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries document members of the family in places such as Limerick, Longford, London and Galway, indicating an established presence in both Ireland and England by that period.
Within Ireland the surname has historically been concentrated in Connacht and parts of Munster, with notable associations to Kilnamona and Inagh in County Clare. Although migration and the effects of the Great Famine reduced the name’s frequency in its native country, it persists in pockets of the west of Ireland. The Irish diaspora has carried the name to countries that experienced substantial Irish immigration, including the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Today the surname Crehan is relatively uncommon in Ireland and abroad. However, it continues to be borne by individuals who trace their ancestry to the Gaelic roots of the name, and it remains a testament to the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Irish people.
Typical given names associated with the Crehan surname
Male
- Anthony
- Brian
- Daniel
- David
- John
- Martin
- Matthew
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Shaun
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anne
- Annette
- Bernadette
- Breda
- Claire
- Eileen
- Elaine
- Fiona
- Julie
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Ursula
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Crehan in...
Braille
⠉⠗⠑⠓⠁⠝
Morse
-.-..-.......--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 578 people named Crehan in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named Crehan.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
