Surname Brannagh - Meaning and Origin

Brannagh: What does the surname Brannagh mean?

The last name Brannagh is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Branagáin or Ó Branacháin, derived from Branagán, one of the oldest recorded Irish surnames. It likely traces the roots of the family back to the Old Gaelic name Bran (“raven”) and the suffix “-achan", meaning “descendant”.

The surname, in its various forms, is found in almost every county in Ireland and was mostly concentrated in County Galway and County Cork. The earliest noted reference to a man with this surname appears in 1473 with the Annals of Connacht.

This name was associated with the O’Flahertys of Connacht and the Costellos of Munster and their relationships can be traced back to the 13th century when the Earl of Ulster, Walter de Lacy granted lands to his vassals which included the O’Flahertys and Costello’s, forming their illustrious clans.

Today, the last name Brannagh continues to be popular among Irish diaspora living in countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. People with the Brannagh surname are known for being hardworking, friendly, and family-oriented. Loyal to their friends and family, Brannaghs are driven by a strong sense of purpose, and dedicated to helping those in need.

Brannagh: Where does the name Brannagh come from?

Today, the surname Brannagh is most common in the United Kingdom, specifically in Northern Ireland, where people from the community of Glens of Antrim trace their family history back to the surname.

The Brannagh name originates from the Gaelic-Irish surname “O Branagáin”, which in Irish-Gaelic roughly translates to “descendants of a raven”. This was likely derived from a personal name, with the Old Norse “bran” meaning “raven” and “gán” meaning “goose”.

Variations of the surname include de Brannagh, de Brannon, Brannagan, Brinagh, Branigan and Brannegan. The name can also be spelt in several ways, such as Brannagh, Brannaugh and Brannagha.

In England, there are fewer people with the surname Brannagh, but it is still found. In 2021, there were around 4,341 people with the last name listed in the UK census, and it is especially prevalent in Scotland, where around 1,895 people of the same name were counted.

In the U.S., the surname "Brannagh" or variants of it is found most commonly in states such as Ohio, New York, California, and Michigan. Other countries with a notable population of Brannaghs include France, Germany, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Brannagh

The surname Brannagh has various variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of this surname is Brannagh, but other spellings include Brannaugh, Bronagh, O'Branaugh, Bronaugh, O'Broinach, Branach, and Bronnach. It is an Irish surname, with the meaning of “gamekeeper,” “descendant of Branach,” or “descendant of famed Raven.”

The earliest mentions of this surname are found in the Annals of the Four Masters and the Irish Book of Lecan. The Annals of the Four Masters record the death of an Irish prince Brigian Ua Brannach, who was killed in 985. The Irish Book of Lecan mentions that in 1261, an O'Brannach chieftain was given rights to a large area of land in Connacht.

The surname is most common in Connacht and Leinster, as well as in the border counties between these provinces. There are also Irish families with this surname found in England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

By the early twentieth century, the spelling of the surname had changed to Brannaugh, and this spelling is still used by some families in Ireland today. Some families also use the spelling Bronagh or Bronaugh, which are derived from the Gaelic spelling of the surname, O'Broinach.

This surname is also found in other spellings derived from the original Irish spelling, such as Brannach, Branagh, Bronnach, and O'Branaugh. Each of these spellings tells us a bit about the history of the surname. All of these spellings represent different variations of the same original Irish name.

Famous people with the name Brannagh

• Kenneth Branagh: He is an actor, writer, director and producer from Northern Ireland. He is an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee who has acted in numerous films and television shows, including Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Branagh's BBC TV adaptation of Romeo & Juliet.
• Emma Thompson: She is an actor, comedian, author, director, lyricist, and screenwriter from England. She won two Academy Awards for her work, the first for her performance in Howards End and the second for her adapted screenplay for Sense and Sensibility. She is known for her roles in films such as Love Actually and Nanny McPhee. 3.Andie MacDowell: She is an actor of American and Scottish descent. She is best known for her roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Groundhog Day, and Sex and the City.
• John Brannagh: He is an actor and director from Northern Ireland. He has appeared on television series such as Orphan Black, The Office, and The X-Files. 5.John Branagh Jr.: He is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has appeared in films such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Cinderella, and had a recurring role on Downton Abbey. 6.Cara Branagh: She is an actor from Northern Ireland. She has appeared in films such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and My Little Eye.
• Kimberly J. Brannagh: She is an actor, writer, and producer from California. She has appeared in films such as Just in Time, 25th Hour, and Requiem for a Dream.

Other surnames

BrannaBrannamBrannan