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Irish surname

Mohan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Mocháin (also Ó Macháin) · 'descendant of Mochán' (a 'pet' form of some name commencing with moch-, early)

Woulfe (1923) gives Mohan as one of many anglicised forms of Ó Mocháin, 'descendant of Mochán', the name of a Cinel Ianna family in the diocese of Kilmacduagh, still numerous in Co. Galway, and of an ecclesiastical family in Co. Sligo who were erenaghs of Killaraght and keepers of the cross of St. Attracta. In 1890 Ireland's birth indexes held 25 entries including spelling varieties (11 spelled Mohan, 9 Moan), principally in Monaghan.

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Coat of arms associated with the Mohan surname
Irish formÓ Mocháin (also Ó Macháin)
Meaning'descendant of Mochán' (a 'pet' form of some name commencing with moch-, early)
CountiesMonaghan, Sligo, Galway
Other spellings8

Origin of the Mohan name

Woulfe names two families of Ó Mocháin: (1) a family of Cinel Ianna, in the diocese of Kilmacduagh, still numerous in Co. Galway, where they generally anglicise the name Mahon; and (2) an ecclesiastical family, a branch of the Ui Fiachrach, in Co. Sligo, erenaghs of Killaraght in the barony of Coolavin and keepers of the cross of St. Attracta.[1]

  1. Early part of the 14th centuryWoulfe: Gregory O Mochain is Archbishop of Tuam.[1]
  2. 1361Four Masters: Benedict O'Mochain, Erenagh of Killaraght, died.[6]
  3. 1392Four Masters: Gregory O'Mochain, Archbishop of Tuam, 'a pious and charitable man', died.[7]
  4. 1395Four Masters: the young Bishop O'Mochain died on his way to Rome.[8]
  5. 1460Four Masters: Rory, son of Manus O'Mochain, Provost of Elphin, died.[9]
  6. 189025 birth entries incl. varieties (11 Mohan, 9 Moan); principally Monaghan.[3][5]

Where in Ireland

Co. MonaghanThe one county named for Mohan births in 1890 (Ulster had 21 of 25).[3]
Co. SligoEcclesiastical Ó Mocháin family, erenaghs of Killaraght in the barony of Coolavin.[1]
Co. GalwayCinel Ianna family, 'still numerous in Co. Galway', where they generally anglicise the name Mahon.[1]

Notable people named Mohan

Gregory O'MochainWoulfe: early 14th century; Four Masters: d. 1392Archbishop of Tuam. Woulfe places him 'in the early part of the 14th century'; the Four Masters record his death in 1392.[1][7]

Other spellings

Moan · Moghan · Moughan · Moohan · Moen · Mowen · Mahon · Maughan[1][3][4]

The Mohan coat of arms

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

Mohan crest gifts

Clan Mohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap JV37 Mohan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Omohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXD27 Classic Cap - Omohan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Omohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Mohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapQO44 Classic Cap - Mohan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Omohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap SX29 Omohan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Omohan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

Mohan surname: questions

What does the surname Mohan mean?

Woulfe gives Mohan as a form of Ó Mocháin, 'descendant of Mochán', which he explains as a 'pet' form of some name beginning with moch-, 'early'.[1]

Are Mohan and Mahon the same name?

Sometimes. Woulfe lists both Mohan and Mahon among the anglicised forms of Ó Mocháin, and says the Galway family generally anglicise it Mahon. Matheson's list of spelling varieties gives [Mahon] under Mohan. Woulfe also gives Mahon among the forms of two other names, Ó Mathghamhna and Mac Mathghamhna.[1][4][10][11]

Where in Ireland is the Mohan name from?

Woulfe names a Cinel Ianna family in Co. Galway and an ecclesiastical family at Killaraght, Co. Sligo, and says Ó Mocháin is 'now a fairly common surname all through the South of Ireland, as well as in Connacht'. In 1890, Mohan births were found principally in Monaghan.[1][3]

Is Vaughan an Irish form of Mohan?

Woulfe says that in Munster Ó Mocháin is 'generally anglicised Vaughan', a form evidently derived from the genitive case Uí Mhocháin.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Mocháin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-mochain.php
  2. Ó Macháin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-machain.php
  3. Mohan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mohan.php
  4. Mohan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1534.php
  5. 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
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1361 (vol. C, part 19) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text019.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1392 (vol. D, part 2) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text002.html
  8. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1395 (vol. D, part 3) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text003.html
  9. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1460 (vol. D, part 9) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text009.html
  10. Ó Mathghamhna — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-mathghamhna.php
  11. Mac Mathghamhna — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macm/mac-mathghamhna.php

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