Surname Kerrigan - Meaning and Origin
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Kerrigan: What does the surname Kerrigan mean?
Kerrigan is an Irish family name originating from the Irish Gaelic of O'Ciaragain or O'Ciardhubhaigh, which is Anglicized to O'Kerrigan. The O prefix is an ancient Irish form of denoting ‘descendant of’ while the root of the name, Ciar, is an old Irish word meaning ‘black’ or ‘dusky’.
Kerrigan is the most commonly used name in County Clare, located in western Ireland, and is also found in other counties such as Cork, Tipperary, and Wexford. Those named Kerrigan are classified as a sub-group belonging to the larger group of namers, O’Brien, which is a powerful and widespread tribe in Dublin.
Kerrigan is a baptismal name, which indicates that somewhere in the past, an ancestor of the family chose to take on the name in honor of a saint, or another given name related to their faith.
Kerrigan is a proud and ancient Irish name that deserves recognition and respect due to its long and proud connection with the Irish people. It is still widely used today, and can be seen in sporting stars, such as soccer player Robbie Keane, musician Ryan O’Kerrigan, and figure skating champion Nancy Kerrigan.
The name Kerrigan stands for strength, resilience, and courage in the face of adversity. The bearers of this proud family name are a testament to this, creating lasting memories and legacies that will live on and be passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKerrigan: Where does the name Kerrigan come from?
The last name Kerrigan is generally associated with the small town of Tralee in the County of Kerry, located on the west coast of Ireland. It is believed to come from the Irish surname O'Ciaragain. The O'Ciaragain clan were a powerful Gaelic family located in the southern part of Ireland, and it is believed that a branch of them settled in County Kerry where the Kerrigan name came from.
The Kerrigan family has since migrated to different parts of the world, becoming one of the most common surnames in many countries. The UK is home to the largest population of Kerrigans, with the highest concentrations in Devon, London, Manchester, and Birmingham. In the United States, the Kerrigan name is most common in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Further afield, Kerrigans can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and many other places. There have also been reports of Kerrigans in Scotland and Wales. There are even pockets of Kerrigans in Spain, Portugal, and other parts of Europe.
Overall, the Kerrigan name is quite widespread and can be found in many countries all over the world. The legacy of the O'Ciaragain clan continues to live on with the Kerrigans of today, and their distinct surname is a testament to their shared heritage of resilience and perseverance.
Variations of the surname Kerrigan
The surname Kerrigan has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of the surname Kerrigan include O’Kerrigan, Kearagain, Keherin, Kerrigen, Kerrigan, O’Carraing, O’Kerrigan and Carrigan.
O’Kerrigan is the oldest and original form of the surname, which is derived from the old Irish surname O’Caireagain. This name is composed of two elements: “caire” meaning a love, and “again” meaning a spear. Together, the elements form the Gaelic meaning “one who loves the spear”, which was often used to refer to a warrior who was fond of war.
Kearagain is a spelling variation of O’Kerrigan. This variation is more closely associated with the counties of Waterford and Tipperary in southeast Ireland.
Keherin is another spelling variation of the surname Kerrigan. This variation is more common in counties Waterford, Cork and Kerry in southwest Ireland.
Kerrigen is an anglicized version of the original O’Kerrigan, and is the most commonly seen version of the name outside of Ireland.
O’Carraing is a variant spelling of the original O’Kerrigan, with the “C” replacing the “K” for ease of pronunciation. This variant is primarily found in counties Louth and Meath in east-central Ireland.
Carrigan is the most distant variation of the surname Kerrigan and is rarely seen today. It is likely derived from the Gaelic spelling Ughcarraigin, meaning “from the rocky place”. This variant is common in counties Sligo and Mayo in northwest Ireland.
Famous people with the name Kerrigan
- Tony Kerrigan: Australian Actor, who is best known for his roles in the soap opera Home and Away and the comedy series Kath & Kim.
- Nancy Kerrigan: AmericanFigure Skating champion, best known for her Olympic and World Championship successes.
- Robyn Kerrigan: Canadian Actress from British Columbia who stars in The Magicians, Supernatural, The Strain, and Altered Carbon.
- Richard Kerrigan: Irish Actor. He starred in films like Red, The Session and Greener Grass.
- Joe Kerrigan: American Baseball coach who worked with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies organization.
- Kevin Kerrigan: English cricketer who has played professional cricket for Sussex and Kent.
- Fred Kerrigan: Australian Actor. Known for appearing in the television shows Heartland, H2O: Just Add Water, and Winners & Losers.
- Devin Kerrigan: American Soccer player who is currently playing with the Louisville City FC in the United Soccer League.
- Hugh Kerrigan: Irish Author and Poet. His works include Abide in Me and If I Could Speak.
- Brian Kerrigan: American actor, best known for appearing in the soap opera General Hospital.