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Irish surname

Duggan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Dubhagáin; Woulfe also gives Duggan, 'sometimes', for Ó Duibhginn and, with a query, for Ó Dubhdhúin · Ó Dubhagáin, 'descendant of Dubhagán' (diminutive of dubh, black)

Woulfe (1923) gives Duggan as an anglicised form of Ó Dubhagáin, 'descendant of Dubhagán' (a diminutive of dubh, black), a name borne by several distinct families, including the Ó Dubhagáin of Ui Maine, hereditary historians to the O'Kellys. In 1890, 89 Duggan births were registered in Ireland, chiefly in Cork, Dublin, Tipperary and Waterford.

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Coat of arms associated with the Duggan surname
Irish formÓ Dubhagáin; Woulfe also gives Duggan, 'sometimes', for Ó Duibhginn and, with a query, for Ó Dubhdhúin
MeaningÓ Dubhagáin, 'descendant of Dubhagán' (diminutive of dubh, black)
CountiesCork, Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford
Other spellings6
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Duggan crest gifts

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Origin of the Duggan name

Woulfe names five main Ó Dubhagáin families: lords of the northern half of Feara Maighe (Fermoy) before the Anglo-Norman invasion; the Ui Maine historians of Ballydugan, near Loughrea; a Tirawley family near Ballina; the Corca Laoighdhe family of South-west Cork; and a family of Aidhne in South-west Galway.[1]

  1. Before the Anglo-Norman invasionÓ Dubhagáin of Fermoy are lords of the northern half of Feara Maighe.[1]
  2. 1372John Mor O'Dugan, bard and topographical poet, dies at Rinn-duin monastery.[5]
  3. Beginning of the 17th centuryÓ Duibhginn (now sometimes Duggan) common in Offaly, Leix and Kerry.[3]
  4. 1861Artist Peter Paul Duggan dies in Paris, 15 October.[6]
  5. 189089 Duggan births registered in Ireland, chiefly Cork, Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkFirst county named for Duggan births in 1890; Woulfe's Ó Dubhagáin of Corca Laoighdhe are 'still numerous' in South-west Cork.[4][1]
Co. DublinOne of the four counties where Duggan births were principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. TipperaryOne of the four counties where Duggan births were principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. WaterfordOne of the four counties where Duggan births were principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. GalwayÓ Dubhagáin historians lived at Ballydugan, near Loughrea; another family was of Aidhne, South-west Galway.[1]
Co. KerryWoulfe calls Ó Dubhdhúin 'an old Kerry surname, probably still extant, but disguised' as Duggan.[2]

Notable people named Duggan

John Mor O'Dugan (O'Dubhagain)d. 1372Bard; author of a topographical and historical poem of 880 lines, 'Triallam timcheall na Fodhla'.[5]
Peter Paul Duggand. 1861Irish-born artist, Professor in the New York Free Academy; the crayon was his favourite medium.[6]

Other spellings

O'Doogan · Doogan · Dougan · Dugan · Duggen · O'Dugan[1]

The Duggan coat of arms

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

Duggan surname: questions

What does the surname Duggan mean?

Woulfe gives Duggan as an anglicised form of Ó Dubhagáin, 'descendant of Dubhagán', a diminutive of dubh, black.[1]

Is Duggan an Irish surname?

Yes. Woulfe lists Duggan among the anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Dubhagáin. He also says Ó Duibhginn is 'now sometimes disguised' as Dugan or Duggan, and gives Duggan, with a query, for Ó Dubhdhúin, an old Kerry surname.[1][2][3]

Where in Ireland is the Duggan name from?

Woulfe places Ó Dubhagáin families in Fermoy, in South-west Cork, near Loughrea and in South-west Galway, and in Tirawley near Ballina. In 1890 Duggan births were found chiefly in Cork, Dublin, Tipperary and Waterford.[1][4]

Was there a Duggan family of historians?

Woulfe says the Ó Dubhagáin family of Ui Maine were a literary family, hereditary historians to the O'Kellys and compilers of the Book of Ui Maine.[1]

How common was Duggan in Ireland?

Matheson counted 89 Duggan entries in the 1890 birth indexes for Ireland: Leinster 22, Munster 54, Ulster 5, Connaught 8.[4]

Sources

  1. Ó Dubhagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhagain.php
  2. Ó Dubhdhúin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-dubhdhuin.php
  3. Ó Duibhginn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/od/o-duibhginn.php
  4. Duggan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/duggan.php
  5. John Mor O'Dugan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnMorODugan.php
  6. Peter Paul Duggan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/PeterPaulDuggan.php

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