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Irish surname

Cogan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

de Cogán; Mac Cogadháin, Mac Cogáin; Ó Cuagáin; Mac Eochagáin · Norman 'de Cogan', i.e. of Cogan, a parish in Glamorganshire; Woulfe also gives Irish names behind the spelling, e.g. Mac Cogadháin, 'son of Cogadhán' (a 'pet' form of Cúchogaidh, an Irish personal name meaning 'war-hound', 'warrior')

Woulfe (1923) lists Cogan under four separate Irish names. One is Norman: de Cogan, 'of Cogan, a parish in Glamorganshire', a surname that 'came into Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion'; he says Milo de Cogan was the first constable of Dublin. The others are Mac Cogadháin of Co. Leitrim, Ó Cuagáin of the Ui Maine in Co. Galway, and Mac Eochagáin, 'rare and found only in Cavan and a few other parts of Ulster'. In 1890 the birth indexes for Ireland held 14 entries for Cogan, principally in Cork and Kildare.

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Coat of arms associated with the Cogan surname
Irish formde Cogán; Mac Cogadháin, Mac Cogáin; Ó Cuagáin; Mac Eochagáin
MeaningNorman 'de Cogan', i.e. of Cogan, a parish in Glamorganshire; Woulfe also gives Irish names behind the spelling, e.g. Mac Cogadháin, 'son of Cogadhán' (a 'pet' form of Cúchogaidh, an Irish personal name meaning 'war-hound', 'warrior')
CountiesCork, Kildare, Leitrim, Galway
Other spellings6

Origin of the Cogan name

Woulfe: (1) Norman de Cogan, of Cogan in Glamorganshire, came into Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion; (2) Mac Cogadháin, chiefs of Clann Fearnaighe, Co. Leitrim, a branch in Meath; (3) Ó Cuagáin, Ui Maine of Co. Galway, same stock as the O'Maddens; (4) Mac Eochagáin, rare, only in Cavan and a few other parts of Ulster.[1][2][3][4]

  1. 1177Milo de Cogan created by patent 'Lord of the moiety of the Kingdom of Cork'.[9]
  2. 1182Milo de Cogan killed in an engagement with MacTire, prince of Imokelly.[9]
  3. 189014 entries for Cogan in Ireland's birth indexes; principally Cork and Kildare.[5][8]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkWoulfe: Milo de Cogan's joint grant of 'the whole of Co. Cork'. A principal Cogan county in 1890.[1][5]
Co. KildareÓ Cuagáin had ramified into Kildare 'before the end of the 16th century'; principal in 1890.[3][5]
Co. LeitrimMac Cogadháin, chiefs of Clann Fearnaighe (Glanfarne), east and north-east of Loch Allen.[2]
Co. GalwayÓ Cuagáin, a family of the Ui Maine, of the same stock as the O'Maddens.[3]
Co. MeathA branch of the Leitrim Mac Cogadháin family settled in Co. Meath.[2]

Notable people named Cogan

Milo de Cogand. 1182Took part in the Anglo-Norman invasion; Strongbow's governor of Dublin (Webb); first constable of Dublin (Woulfe); killed 1182 (Webb).[9][1]
Richard de CoganMilo's younger brother; 'specially distinguished himself' in the defence of Dublin (Webb).[10]

Other spellings

de Cogan · MacCogan · Coggan · O Cogan · Coogan · Cooken[1]

The Cogan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Cogan surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Cogan crest gifts

Clan Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap XM32 Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms Irish Cap Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Cogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap UG42 Cogan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Cogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Ocogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXL37 Classic Cap - Ocogan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ocogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Cogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapGI89 Classic Cap - Cogan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Cogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapOF59 Classic Cap - Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Cogan Coat Of Arms Kildare Irelandarms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Ocogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RO76 Ocogan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ocogan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Cogan surname: questions

Is Cogan an Irish or a Norman name?

Both. Woulfe gives a Norman de Cogan, 'of Cogan, a parish in Glamorganshire', which came into Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion, and also Gaelic names anglicised Cogan: Mac Cogadháin, Ó Cuagáin and Mac Eochagáin.[1][2][3][4]

What does the surname Cogan mean?

For the Norman name, 'of Cogan', a parish in Glamorganshire. For Mac Cogadháin, Woulfe gives 'son of Cogadhán', a 'pet' form of Cúchogaidh, an Irish personal name meaning 'war-hound', 'warrior'.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Cogan name found?

In 1890 the Cogan entries in the birth indexes were principally found in Cork and Kildare. Woulfe also places Irish families who used the spelling in Leitrim (with a branch in Meath) and Galway, and says Mac Eochagáin is 'rare and found only in Cavan and a few other parts of Ulster'.[5][2][3][4]

Are Cogan and Goggin the same name?

Woulfe says the Norman de Cogan is now pronounced Gogán, sometimes Gógan, and is generally anglicised Goggin in Munster. Matheson (1901) prints [Goggin] in brackets under Cogan and [Cogan] under Goggin; his brackets mean the name is also found as a principal name in his list.[1][6][7][11]

Who was Milo de Cogan?

Woulfe says he was the first constable of Dublin and received, jointly with Robert FitzStephen, a grant of the whole of Co. Cork from Henry II. Webb says Strongbow appointed him governor of Dublin, that in 1177 he was created by patent 'Lord of the moiety of the Kingdom of Cork', and that he was killed in 1182.[1][9]

Sources

  1. de Cogán — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/d/de-cogan.php
  2. Mac Cogadháin, Mac Cogáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-cogadhain-mac-cogain.php
  3. Ó Cuagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cuagain.php
  4. Mac Eochagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/mace/mac-eochagain.php
  5. Cogan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/cogan.php
  6. Cogan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/298.php
  7. Goggin — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/727.php
  8. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  9. Milo De Cogan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/MiloDeCogan.php
  10. Richard De Cogan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/RichardDeCogan.php
  11. Memorandum Explanatory of Alphabetical List — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/memorandum.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).