Rogan — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Ruadhagáin
Meaning: 'descendant of Ruadhagán' (from ruadh, red)
Traditional stronghold: Armagh, Monaghan
Pronunciation: ROH-gan; Irish Ó Ruadhagáin: oh ROO-uh-gawn
History of the Rogan name
Ó Ruadhagáin comes from a diminutive of ruadh, 'red' or 'red-haired', one of the commonest roots in Gaelic surnames. The sept belonged to the old kingdom of Oriel, and the name has been associated for centuries with Armagh, Monaghan and adjoining south Down, where a district near Newry was known as Rogan country. It was anglicised early as Rogan, occasionally O'Rogan, and never developed the multitude of spellings that afflict other Ulster names. Rogan remains a distinctly northern surname in Ireland, and emigration planted it firmly in Scotland and the north of England, as well as in America, where it is now most often encountered.
Variants: O'Rogan · Ruane? no · Roggan
Famous bearers of the name
- Anton Rogan — Belfast-born Celtic defender capped 18 times by Northern Ireland.
- Joe Rogan — American podcaster and UFC commentator of Irish descent.
- Johnny Rogan — London-Irish biographer of the Byrds, Van Morrison and the Smiths.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Murphy · Connolly · Duffy · McMahon · McKenna · McCabe · Garvey · O'Hanlon