Surname Beegan - Meaning and Origin
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Beegan: What does the surname Beegan mean?
The surname Beegan is generally thought to have originated from either Ireland or Scotland, as evidenced in its variant surnames Beggan, Beagan, Beggin, and Beggon. The term 'beegan' is a variation on the Gaelic term 'beag', which translates roughly to 'small' or 'little'. This suggests that the name was used to denote those of small stature or origin.
Evidence of the surname in Ireland can be tracked back to the 16th century, when the Beegan family first appears on record in County Galway in the province of Connacht. The family is believed to have enjoyed a long history in the area. Indeed, John Beggan is mentioned as a witness to a deed of land donation to the abbey of Ballintober in 1557 and there is further evidence of Thomas Beagan, priest of the diocese of Elphin in 1674.
The name appears to have spread as people moved outward and established new communities. Today, the name is relatively common across the countries of the UK and Ireland, with slightly higher concentrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Based on its etymology, the surname Beegan is thought to carry a connotation of smallness, but it is likely it carries more significance to those of the family, who consider themselves connected by ancestral ties that span centuries. For them, this miniscule namesake is one small part of an ongoing connection to the past with deep, meaningful implications.
Order DNA origin analysisBeegan: Where does the name Beegan come from?
Beegan is a surname that is believed to have originated in England. Today, the surname is most commonly found in Ireland and the United States, with the highest concentrations located in both countries.
In Ireland, the majority of Beegan families live in the counties of Mayo and Galway. These counties are located on the western side of Ireland, and are home to some of the island’s most famous landmarks, with the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara National Park and the Aran Islands all nearby. Across the ocean in the United States, the largest populations of Beegan surnames are located in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, with smaller concentrations appearing in Connecticut, Illinois, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
The frequency of the Beegan surname does not appear to have greatly changed over the years, although it is possible that more members of thefamily have migrated to the United States due to the opportunities there. The surname is still relatively popular in Ireland today, but a lot of people outside of Ireland are not very familiar with it. As a result, the Beegan surname is still something of a curiosity among Americans - one that can still draw silently curious eyes if ever mentioned in conversation.
Variations of the surname Beegan
The surname Beegan is a variant spelling of the surname Beagan, which is of Irish origin. The surname Beagan is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name O'Beagain, which is derived from the personal name Ó Beagáin, which comes from the Gaelic word "beag" meaning "small". This surname is mainly found in the province of Connacht in western Ireland.
Variant spellings of the surname Beagan can include: Began, Beghan, Beegan, and Beggan. Other common surnames of Irish origin stemming from the same roots include Beagan, Beggan, Beggan, Beggane, O'Began, O'Beaghan, O'Beggan, O'Bagan, and Beagin.
Other variants of the surname Beagan which are not of Irish origin include Bagen, Beighan, Bighan, Bigan, Beeghen, Beagin, and Beghens.
The prevalence of variant spellings of the surname Beegan is due, in part, to the emigration of Irish people around the world, particularly after the 19th century. People searching for their Irish roots may therefore find people with a variety of spellings and surnames closely related to the surname Beegan.
Famous people with the name Beegan
- Joseph Beegun: American film, television and voice actor.
- Matt Beegun: former professional baseball pitcher.
- Pauline Beegun: Scottish-Australian author and poet.
- Pat Beegun: former footballer who played in the English football league.
- Sean Beegun: athlete who competes in Cycling, Cross Country Skiing, Triathlon and Ultrarunning.
- Charles Beegun: first American composer to be appointed organist of First Church of Cambridge, MA.
- James Beegun: American artist and illustrator.
- Dinah Beegun: American-born singer, performer, and songwriter.
- Sean J. Beegun: American professional poker player.
- Dr. Kesley Beegun: Canadian football player and orthopedic surgeon.