Bergin — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: O hAimheirgin
Meaning: uncertain, possibly related to wonder or portent
Traditional stronghold: Kilkenny, Laois
Pronunciation: BER-gin; Irish O hAimheirgin: oh HAV-er-gin
History of the Bergin name
Bergin's Gaelic form, O hAimheirgin, is of uncertain meaning, though some sources connect it to a root suggesting wonder or portent. The family were located mainly in Laois and Kilkenny, in the same general area as several other midland septs, and remained a modest, localised name rather than a major territorial power. The surname has endured steadily in that region into the modern era and is still most frequently found across Laois, Kilkenny and neighbouring counties.
Variants: Bergine · Bargin · O'Bergin
Famous bearers of the name
- Patrick Bergin — Dublin-born film actor, star of Sleeping with the Enemy
- Emmet Bergin — Irish actor best known for the RTE series Glenroe
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Walsh · Moore · Dunne · Brennan · Fitzpatrick · Tobin · Purcell · Dowling