Surname Hanahan - Meaning and Origin
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Hanahan: What does the surname Hanahan mean?
The last name Hanahan is believed to be derived from the Irish name O' hEanachain, which is an ancient family name that dates back to the 5th century. The surname is derived from the name of the ancient Gaelic clan of O' hEanachain, who were based in County Clare. The literal translation of the name is "descendants of Eanachain," which means "your choice" in modern Irish Gaelic.
The Hanahan surname has been found in reference to various Gaelic clans over the centuries, from O' hEanachain in Ulster, to O' hAnnachain in High Kerry, and even O' hAnain in Fermanagh. As a result, the surname has been found in many areas of the Emerald Isle throughout the ages.
The Hanahan surname is also believed to have been adopted by Scottish families from the Irish families of O' hEanachain. It is thought that some Scottish families adopted the surname in order to avoid or hide from potential religious persecution in Scotland.
In modern times, the surname Hanahan has found success as both a first name and a surname, showing up in the United States and Canada as a popular name choice. People bearing the Hanahan name are often proud of their family origins, and take joy in tracing their names back to their Gaelic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHanahan: Where does the name Hanahan come from?
The name Hanahan is most commonly found in the United States today, with the vast majority of people with the surname residing in the state of South Carolina. According to the United States Census Bureau, over 2,000 Americans lived with the name Hanahan in 2010.
The name Hanahan is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the name possibly being a variation of the Scottish name “Hennan”. It is unclear when exactly the name arrived in the United States, but records show that the name can be found in South Carolina records as early as 1760.
The town of Hanahan, located in Berkeley County, South Carolina, was founded in the late 19th century by a family who had migrated from Ireland with the name Hanahan. In 1940, the population of the small town was only 277, but by 2010 had grown to 17,997. Today, it is the most populous place in the United States with the name Hanahan.
Overall, the name Hanahan appears to be most closely associated today with the city and county of Berkeley, South Carolina. But as the population continues to grow, it is likely that Hanahan is becoming more popular across the United States.
Variations of the surname Hanahan
The Hanahan surname is an Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó hAnnacháin and has a variety of variants and spellings. Ó hAnnacháin is an Irish Gaelic family name meaning “descendant of Annachán”, with Annachán being a Gaelic personal name, likely of baptismal origin, derived from a diminutive of the name Anaois, which means 'uncontrollable'.
The Hanahan surname is known to have multiple spellings and variants including Hanighan, Hanihan, Hannihan, Hennighan, Hennihan, Inhaghan, Anaghan and Hanagain. Alternate surnames of the same origin include O'Hannachain, O'Hannigen, O'Hannaghan, O'Hannihen, O'Hennigan and O'Hennihan. Oftentimes, individuals with the Hanahan surname are also seen with surnames of localized origin such as O'Hara, O'Neill, McLoughlin and McDonagh.
The Hanahan surname primarily originates in the Cork and Kerry counties of southwestern Ireland. It is estimated that over 1000 bearers of the Hanahan surname are currently living in the United States today.
Famous people with the name Hanahan
- Jay Hanahan: American radio personality and producer
- Charles Hanahan: American anatomical researcher and professor
- Robert Hanahan: Astronomer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Gary Hanahan: American cardiologist
- Erin Hanahan: Professional wrestler
- Mike Hanahan: American Film Producer
- Kelly Hanahan: Founding member of the American Fashion Council
- Alex Hanahan: Former professional basketball player
- Mark Hanahan: Founder and CEO of Catalyst Ventures
- Scott Hanahan: Business executive and former high-ranking US DoD official