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Irish surname

Mangan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Mongáin · 'descendant of Mongán' (diminutive of mongach, hairy)

Woulfe (1923) gives Mangan as an anglicised form of Ó Mongáin, 'descendant of Mongán', the name of at least three distinct families seated in Cork, Mayo and Fermanagh; he says the name 'is now generally anglicised Mangan', but that Mongan, nearer the original, is still preserved in Mayo and other parts of Ireland. In 1890 Ireland's birth indexes held 52 entries for Mangan including spelling varieties (50 spelled Mangan), principally in Dublin, Limerick, Kerry and Mayo.

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Coat of arms associated with the Mangan surname
Irish formÓ Mongáin
Meaning'descendant of Mongán' (diminutive of mongach, hairy)
CountiesCork, Mayo, Fermanagh, Dublin
Other spellings6

Origin of the Mangan name

Woulfe: Ó Mongáin was 'the name of at least three distinct families, seated respectively in Cork, Mayo and Fermanagh'. In the 16th century it was 'not uncommon in Galway, Clare, Kerry, Tipperary, Kildare and Wexford'. It is 'now generally anglicised Mangan'.[1]

  1. 16th centuryWoulfe: the name was not uncommon in Galway, Clare, Kerry, Tipperary, Kildare and Wexford.[1]
  2. 1379Four Masters: Flaherty O'Mongan, Erenagh of Rossory in Fermanagh, died.[5]
  3. 1849Poet James Clarence Mangan died at Mercer's Hospital on 20 June 1849 (Webb).[6]
  4. 189052 birth entries including spelling varieties (50 spelled Mangan).[2][3]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkOne of the three counties where Woulfe seats distinct Ó Mongáin families.[1]
Co. MayoSeat of an Ó Mongáin family; Woulfe says the form Mongan is still preserved there. A principal county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. FermanaghSeat of an Ó Mongáin family, per Woulfe.[1]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Mangan births in the 1890 index.[2]
Co. LimerickAmong the counties where Mangan births were principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. KerryAmong the counties where Mangan births were principally found in 1890.[2]

Notable people named Mangan

James Clarence Mangan1803–1849Dublin-born poet; Webb names 'Dark Rosaleen' among his best-known Irish pieces.[6]
Flaherty O'Mongand. 1379The Four Masters record the death in 1379 of Flaherty O'Mongan (so spelled), Erenagh of Rossory in Fermanagh.[5]

Other spellings

Mongan · Mangin · Mongon · O Mongane · Manghan · Manghen[1]

The Mangan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Mangan 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.

Mangan crest gifts

Clan Mangan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap BA80 Mangan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mangan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Mangan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapHA48 Classic Cap - Mangan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mangan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Mangan surname: questions

What does the surname Mangan mean?

Woulfe gives Mangan as a form of Ó Mongáin, 'descendant of Mongán', a diminutive of mongach, 'hairy'.[1]

Is Mangan an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Mangan, Mongan and Mangin as anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Mongáin.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Mangan name from?

Woulfe names at least three distinct Ó Mongáin families, seated in Cork, Mayo and Fermanagh. In 1890 Mangan births were principally found in Dublin, Limerick, Kerry and Mayo.[1][2]

Are Mangan and Mongan the same name?

Woulfe gives both as anglicised forms of Ó Mongáin and says Mongan, which is nearer the original, is still preserved in Mayo and other parts of Ireland.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Mongáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-mongain.php
  2. Mangan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mangan.php
  3. 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
  4. Mangan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1179.php
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1378–1379 (part 1) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text001.html
  6. James Clarence Mangan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JamesClarenceMangan.php

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