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Irish surname

Langan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Longáin · 'descendant of Longán' (diminutive of long, 'long, tall')

Woulfe (1923) gives Langan as an anglicised form of Ó Longáin, 'descendant of Longán' (diminutive of long, 'long, tall'), the name '(1) of an Ulster family who were anciently chiefs of West Ui Breasail, in Co. Armagh, and are now very numerous in Mayo; and (2) of an ecclesiastical family who were erenaghs of Ardpatrick, in Co. Limerick, and Patrician stewards of Munster'. After the destruction of the monastery of Ardpatrick, he says, the family dispersed through Limerick, Kerry and Cork. In 1890, 19 Langan birth entries were recorded in Ireland, principally found in Mayo.

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Coat of arms associated with the Langan surname
Irish formÓ Longáin
Meaning'descendant of Longán' (diminutive of long, 'long, tall')
CountiesMayo
Other spellings6
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Langan crest gifts

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Origin of the Langan name

Woulfe (1923): Ó Longáin, 'descendant of Longán' (diminutive of long, 'long, tall'), the name (1) of an Ulster family, anciently chiefs of West Ui Breasail in Co. Armagh, now very numerous in Mayo; and (2) of an ecclesiastical family, erenaghs of Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick, and Patrician stewards of Munster, who dispersed through Limerick, Kerry and Cork after the monastery's destruction.[1]

  1. 1113Four Masters: Diarmaid Ua Longain, steward of Munster, died.[3]
  2. 1141Four Masters: Aedh Ua Longain, steward of Munster, died.[4]
  3. 19th centuryWoulfe (1923): 'In the last century', the O'Longans of Cork were scribes and poets.[1]
  4. 189019 Langan birth entries recorded in Ireland (Matheson).[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. MayoMatheson: 'Counties in which principally found Mayo.' Woulfe also says the Ulster family is now numerous in Mayo.[2][1]

Other spellings

O Longane · O Langane · O Longan · O Langan · Longan · Langin[1]

The Langan coat of arms

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

Langan surname: questions

What does the surname Langan mean?

Woulfe gives Langan as an anglicised form of Ó Longáin, 'descendant of Longán' (diminutive of long, 'long, tall').[1]

Where in Ireland is the Langan name from?

Woulfe gives Ó Longáin as the name '(1) of an Ulster family who were anciently chiefs of West Ui Breasail, in Co. Armagh, and are now very numerous in Mayo; and (2) of an ecclesiastical family who were erenaghs of Ardpatrick, in Co. Limerick, and Patrician stewards of Munster', who dispersed through Limerick, Kerry and Cork after the monastery was destroyed. Matheson's 1890 births index gives the name as principally found in Mayo.[1][2]

Is Langan the same as Ó Longáin?

Yes, Woulfe gives Langan as one of the anglicised forms of Ó Longáin.[1]

Were any Langans/O'Longans known as scribes?

Woulfe says the O'Longans of Cork were, in the 19th century ('the last century' as he wrote in 1923), 'a distinguished family of scribes and poets.'[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Longáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ol/o-longain.php
  2. Langan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/langan.php
  3. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1113 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text022.html
  4. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1141 — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005B/text024.html

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