Home › Irish Surnames › Regan

Irish surname

Regan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Riagáin · 'descendant of Riagán'

Regan, or O'Regan, is an anglicised form of Ó Riagáin, 'descendant of Riagán'. Woulfe (1923) describes two distinct families: one of ancient Meath, lords of South Breagh before the Anglo-Norman invasion, and a Dalcassian family of Thomond. In Matheson's 1890 survey Regan was the 66th commonest surname in Ireland, with about 10,500 people.

Shop Regan crest giftsRead the history
Coat of arms associated with the Regan surname
Irish formÓ Riagáin
Meaning'descendant of Riagán'
CountiesMeath, Dublin, Cork, Roscommon
Other spellings4
Welcome offer $10 off orders of $20 or more with code WELCOME10 One use per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Regan crest gifts

Clan Regan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap KI90 Regan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Regan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Oregan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapGL97 Classic Cap - Oregan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Oregan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Regan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXY89 Classic Cap - Regan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Regan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45O'Regan Irish coat of arms glass ornaments, heart and round, hanging on a Christmas treeO'Regan Coat of Arms – Irish Family Crest Glass Ornament$24.99O'Regan Irish coat of arms acrylic ornament hanging on a Christmas treeO'Regan Coat of Arms – Irish Family Crest Ornament$19.99Regan Irish coat of arms glass ornaments, heart and round, hanging on a Christmas treeRegan Coat of Arms – Irish Family Crest Glass Ornament$24.99Regan Irish coat of arms acrylic ornament hanging on a Christmas treeRegan Coat of Arms – Irish Family Crest Ornament$19.99

Origin of the Regan name

Woulfe: two distinct families. The O'Regans of Meath, a southern Ui Neill branch and one of the four tribes of Tara, were lords of South Breagh (Meath and north Co. Dublin), dispossessed after the Anglo-Norman invasion and dispersed. The O'Regans of Thomond were Dalcassians 'said to be' descended from Riagán, nephew of Brian Boru.[1]

  1. 1029Mathghamhain Ó Riagáin, King of Breagh, captures Amhlaoibh, son of Sitric, King of Dublin.[1]
  2. 1169–1173Years covered by Maurice Regan's account, taken down from his lips in Norman French verse.[4]
  3. after the Anglo-Norman invasionThe Meath O'Regans are dispossessed and dispersed through Ireland.[1]
  4. 1890Regan is Ireland's 66th commonest surname, about 10,500 people.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. MeathAncient seat of the O'Regans, lords of South Breagh and one of the four tribes of Tara.[1]
Co. DublinSouth Breagh took in the north of the present Co. Dublin.[1]
Co. CorkFirst-named county for Regan births in 1890; Munster had 110 of 219 entries.[6]
Co. RoscommonOne of the counties where Regan was principally found in 1890.[6]
Co. MayoOne of the counties where Regan was principally found in 1890.[6]

Notable people named Regan

Mathghamhain Ó Riagáinfl. 1029King of Breagh; captured Amhlaoibh, son of Sitric, King of Dublin, freeing him only for an enormous ransom.[1]
Maurice Reganaccount covers 1169–1173Secretary and interpreter to Dermot MacMurrough in his dealings with the Anglo-Normans.[4]

Other spellings

O'Regan · O Riegaine · O Regane · O Regaine[1]

The Regan coat of arms

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

Regan surname: questions

What does the surname Regan mean?

Woulfe gives Regan and O'Regan as anglicised forms of Ó Riagáin, 'descendant of Riagán'. He does not give a meaning for the personal name Riagán.[1]

Are Regan and O'Regan the same name?

Yes. Woulfe lists both O'Regan and Regan as anglicised forms of Ó Riagáin, and also of Ó Réagáin (a common variant in the spoken language) and Ó Réigín (another variant).[1][2][3]

Where in Ireland is the Regan family from?

Woulfe records two families: the O'Regans of Meath, lords of South Breagh (Meath and north Co. Dublin), and a Dalcassian family of Thomond. He says the O'Regans 'are now numerous all over Ireland'. In 1890 Regan was principally found in Cork, Roscommon and Mayo.[1][6]

Is Regan related to Brian Boru?

Only one family, and Woulfe hedges it: the O'Regans of Thomond are a Dalcassian family 'said to be descended from Riagán, son of Donncuan, the brother of Brian Boru'.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Riagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-riagain.php
  2. Ó Réagáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-reagain.php
  3. Ó Réigín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-reigin.php
  4. Maurice Regan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/MauriceRegan.php
  5. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  6. Regan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/regan.php

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