Surname O'Corrigain - Meaning and Origin
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O'Corrigain: What does the surname O'Corrigain mean?
The last name 'O’Corrigain' is an Irish name, derived from the Gaelic name 'Ó Corragáin'. The prefix 'Ó' denotes 'descent from', and 'Corragáin' is a patronymic based on the Gaelic given name Corragán, which is itself derived from the Gaelic elements 'corr' meaning 'spear', and 'gan' which is from 'gein' meaning 'birth'. An alternate form of the surname is 'Corrigan'.
The Corrigans are among the oldest families in Ireland, and are part of the Clan Dálaigh. The Corrigans were mainly from Eoganacht of Glendalough, which covered a large portion of south-west Wicklow and east Kildare on the eastern border of the Irish Pale. This area was known as Corgaguine, which is likely how the family derived their name.
Families bearing the name have been recorded since the 13th century and their presence is documented in the Fiants of Henry VIII and through the registries of the Ulster King of Arms. During the 15th and 16th centuries, their presence extended to counties Cork and Limerick.
Today, the O’Corrigans of Ireland are descended from a number of distinct families each with their own ancestral homes. The distribution of the name in Ireland is scattered with concentration mainly found in Cork, Carlow, Wexford and County Tipperary. In Ireland they are often referred to as the "Knights of Glin".
O'Corrigan is also an established Irish surname throughout the diasporic Irish communities of the UK, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Those bearing the name in America can trace their ancestry back to the hungry immigrants of the Irish Potato Famine of 1845–1849.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Corrigain: Where does the name O'Corrigain come from?
The last name O’Corrigain is believed to originate from County Clare in Ireland. The name is commonly seen throughout Ireland along with Great Britain, Australia, and the United States.
In Ireland, O’Corrigain is most commonly found in the southern regions, mainly in counties Cork, Kerry, and Clare, and also in Offaly and Tipperary. Some of its variants such as Corrigan, O’Corrigan and Corragen can be found all around Ireland.
Today, the United Kingdom has the largest population of people carrying the surname O’Corrigain. Immigration from Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries brought many people with the name to the coastal towns of Great Britain.
In the United States, most people with the surname O’Corrigain live in the eastern part in states like Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, showing a large concentration of the surname in Philadelphia. The surname is also present in other states such as California, Texas, Maryland and Illinois.
Finally, in Australia the surname O’Corrigain can be found in the Northern Territory and the states of South, Western and New South Wales, mostly in the capital cities.
Overall, the O’Corrigain surname is still found in many parts of the world today, particularly in both the UK and the US where the diaspora from Ireland heavily influenced the population of people with the surname.
Variations of the surname O'Corrigain
O'Corrigain is an Irish surname which can be found spelled in various forms, including Corrigan, Corrigane, Corriganne, Corrigen, Corriggan, Corriggin, Corigen, Corriganney and Corigan. The root of the surname originates from the Irish phrase "O' Corragáin" which translates to "descendant of Corragáin".
This family was predominately based in the county of Offaly, Leinster, Ireland prior to the 16th century. According to Irish genealogists, the O'Corragáin surname was part of a sept of the Uí Failge Clan. The Uí Failge Clan can be traced back to Murchadh Ó Fallamhain, a 12th century king of Offaly, whose main castle was located in Geashill, Co. Offaly.
Due to famine and mass emigration in the 19th and early 20th century, many members of this Clan and surname relocated to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and England. These emigrants and their descendants are often known as Corrigans, Corriganss, Corrigannes, Corrigans, and Corigans.
The O'Corragáin name meaning generally translates to "a warm hearted descendant of the spear carrier" and the Gaelic pronunciation is cor-rig-GAWN. The Irish version of the name, O'Corragáin, is still commonly found in parts of Ireland and can be translated into English as Corrigan.
Famous people with the name O'Corrigain
- Oisín O'Corragain, Gaelic footballer
- Aoife O'Corragain, professional dancer
- Declan O'Corragain, actor
- Diarmuid O'Corragain, former Senator of the Republic of Ireland
- Niall O'Corragain, Irish traditional musician
- Éamon O'Corragain, former Lord Mayor of Dublin
- Ciarán O'Corragain, Irish playwright
- Síomha O'Corragain, radio presenter
- Pádraig O'Corragain, Olympic athlete
- Seán O'Corragain, professional boxer