Surname Coogan - Meaning and Origin

Coogan: What does the surname Coogan mean?

The surname Coogan is an Anglicised form of the Irish name Ó Cúgáin, meaning “descendant of Cúgán”. The Gaelic personal name Cúgán is derived from the root word cú meaning “hound”, giving the name a literal meaning of “wolfhound”.

The majority of the Coogans are believed to have originated from County Mayo, in the northwest of Ireland. Most notably, they were found in the baronies of Tirawley and Burrishoole. The name is now found throughout the country, especially in the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Galway.

Traditionally, the Coogans have been known as a “landowning” or “gentry” family which means they held large amounts of land. The Coogan name has other variances which punt a slightly darker history. In the late 18th century, psychologist Thomas Coogan was appointed as a Catholic agent in Ireland to handle the eviction of the Protestant dissenters from their homes.

In more modern times, the Coogan name is often associated mainly with the Hollywood actor, writer, producer and director Steve Coogan. He is best known for his successful and beloved comedy works which have made him a comedy legend.

The Coogan family name is part of a wide array of Irish surnames, each sharing its own distinct history which sheds light on the great culture of Ireland.

Coogan: Where does the name Coogan come from?

The Coogan surname is found mainly in Ireland and the U.K. It is believed to have been derived from Gaelic and could mean “descendant of Ogan”, which is a personal name composed of Og, meaning “youth”.

Today the last name Coogan is found throughout Ireland, with families located in the counties of Cork, Waterford, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Tyrone and Donegal. In the U.K. Coogan families are located mainly in England, especially in North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and London.

The Coogan family continues to appear in many root family genealogies and the surname still has a large presence in some parts of the world. It is still a common last name within Ireland and the U.K., and it is also found in the United States, particularly in cities such as New York City, Boston and Chicago. Additionally, there are families of Coogan descent in Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Coogan

The surname Coogan has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of the surname Coogan is the Irish surname Ó Comhagáin, which is found primarily in County Galway and is believed to have originated in the pre-Norman period. This variant of the name is the original Irish spelling, and is often anglicized as Coogan, Coagen, Commagan, and Caogain.

In Scotland, the names Cuogan, Cogan, Coagan, and Coggan are also variants of the Coogan surname and are often derived from MacEochagáin or MacEoghagan. This particular lineage is found in Ayrshire and is likely of Irish origin.

In English counties, the spelling of the Coogan name is often shortened to "Cogan," the distinctively Cornwall spelling of the name. Coastal areas such as Plymouth were home to many Coogan families, and the alternative Irish spelling of the name may also account for the variant "Coogan" being found.

In Northern Ireland, the Coogan surname can also be found as MacCogan, a variant more likely to have originated in Donegal. Finally, the Coogan surname is also found with the variant spelling Coggan in both Ireland and England, and is likely a variant of the earlier Cuogan spelling.

To sum up, the most common variants and spellings of Coogan can be categorized as: Ó Comhagáin, Cuogan, Cogan, Coagan, Coggan, Commagan, Caogain, MacEochagáin, MacEoghagan and MacCogan.

Famous people with the name Coogan

• Stephen Coogan: English comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director who has been dubbed the "king of British Comedy". He is best known for his film roles in The Parole Officer, Les Misérables, Night at the Museum, and The Trip trilogy.
• Thomas T. Coogan: American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was a Bishop of the Diocese of Reno from 1998 until his retirement in 2011.
• Walter Coogan: Irish former Gaeilgeoir and politician who represented the constituency of Waterford in Dail Eireann from 1948 to 1954.
• Arthur Coogan: American stage actor and vaudeville entertainer during the early 20th century.
• John Coogan: Irish former footballer and manager who managed Piedmont of the Southern Professional Soccer League from 2017 to 2018.
• Anna Coogan: American singer-songwriter who released her first album "I Almost Called Your Name" in 2007.
• Kristen Coogan: former actress who is the daughter of Walter Coogan and the sister of Thomas T. Coogan.
• Jeremy Coogan: Professional basketball player from Australia who signed with the Adelaide 36ers in 2015.
• Joseph Coogan: American actor who made his film debut in 1986 in The Brotherhood and is best known for his work on the soap opera, Santa Barbara.
• Gary Coogan: former professional cyclist who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter time trial.

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