GEOGHEGAN
Geoghegan is a surname of Irish origin, recorded in the medieval period in numerous forms such as Geoghan, Gegan, Geogan and the earlier MagEochagain. The name derives from the Gaelic Ó Geoghegan, meaning “descendant of Geoghegan”, where the personal name Geoghan is believed to denote a person of a swarthy or dark complexion.
The oldest form of the surname is attested as Mag Eochagain, which translates literally to “son of Eochaidh”. The component Eochaidh means “horse rider” or “horseman”. The prefix Mag or Mac indicates a male descendant or son, so the surname indicates a lineage that can be traced back to an ancient warrior chief. According to the annalistic record, the first documented instance of the name is that of Teag Mag Eochagain, dated to 1291 in the Annals of the Four Masters.
The Geoghegan clan was situated within the southern Ui Neill, an ancient population group claiming descent from the 6th‑century King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Their territory lay in the barony of Moycashel in County Westmeath, with the chiefs’ seat near Kilbeggan. Fifteen chiefs of the name are mentioned in Irish annals between 1291 and 1450. The family held extensive estates, the chief of which was at Castletown near Mullingar; the estate is now known as Castletown-Goeghegan.
A branch of the family migrated to County Galway, where the surname was shortened to Geoghan and Gegan. An example of the surname recorded in the 18th century is that of Peter Geoghegan and Margaret Brogan, married on 7 July 1796 in Mullingar, County Westmeath.
Although the surname is uncommon worldwide, it remains frequent in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Leinster, counties Westmeath and Offaly. It is also found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, though it remains relatively rare outside of Ireland. The name has been Anglicised into forms such as McGeoghegan and MacGeoghegan, but all such variations can be traced back to the common Gaelic ancestry.
The heraldic arms of the Geoghegan family are described as a silver shield charged with a red lion rampant between three red dexter hands couped at the wrist. This coat of arms is traditionally borne by bearers of the surname throughout the years.
Typical given names associated with the Geoghegan surname
Male
- Andrew
- Daniel
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Amanda
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracey
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 Geoghegan in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 1,877 people named Geoghegan in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,434th most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Geoghegan.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Geoghegan
- Michael Geoghegan - Banker
- Simon Geoghegan - Irish rugby union player
- Chris Geoghegan - Businessman
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.