Surname Reagin - Meaning and Origin
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Reagin: What does the surname Reagin mean?
The surname Reagin is of Irish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Riagáin," which means "descendant of Riagan". This name is most likely a variant of the name Reagan, which is also of Irish origin. The Gaelic personal name Riagan may possibly mean "little king". This would suggest that the ancestors of the modern-day individuals with the surname Reagin were likely to be people of significance or nobility within their communities. Over time, due to emigration and different languages, the name may have transformed and anglicised to Reagin. The name is found in different parts of the world today, carried by people of Irish descent.
Order DNA origin analysisReagin: Where does the name Reagin come from?
The last name Reagin is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the South. It is a relatively uncommon surname but can be found all over the country. In most recent US census data, the last name Reagin appears to be most prevalent in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Reagin originates from a Scottish surname, and so is likely a result of Scottish immigrants to the American South in the 18th and 19th centuries. This was a time when people from all over Europe were leaving their homes and seeking better lives in the Americas.
Further tracing of the surname shows that Reagin is likely derived from the Gaelic word for “king”, rex, or “regn”. This suggests the individuals who first adopted this name were of a high social standing or perhaps even of royal descent.
Today, the last name Reagin is uncommon but still found in significant numbers in the Southern United States. Its history indicates a long journey across oceans and through generations that has left it firmly planted in the soil of American ancestry.
Variations of the surname Reagin
The surname Reagin is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin and is approximately translated as "Grandson of Riagán." The O Regan/Reagan/Regan/Reagan/Reganing name is a derivative of the name O Riagáin. This surname is derived from the old Gaelic name O'Riagáin which is thought to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ua Riagáin, meaning "descendant of Riagán." Apart from the basic O Regan/Reagan/Reagan/Reganing/Reagin name, there are other variants like Raggin, O'Reagen, Reganell, Reagor, Reaginz, Ragan, Ragland, Reggans, Reagans, Regano, Reganes, Ragen, Reganos, Reagon, Regagna, Regeon, Regean, Regging and Regin.
The various spellings of the surname Reagin (which became Regan in its modern form) include O'Regan, Reagan, Regan, Regin, Ragan, Ragon, Reagon, Reagin, Reggins, Reagon, Reagans, and Reggans. The Irish variants of this name include O Ríagáin, Ó Ríagáin,Riagáin, Ó Riagáin, Ríagáin, and O'Riagáin.
The surname Reagin is typically found with its Irish origin in the province of Connacht, specifically the counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Longford. It is also common in the surrounding counties of Westmeath, Leitrim, and Roscommon. The variant forms of the surname are traditionally found in the other counties of Ireland, such as Clare, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, and Dublin.
The Irish surname Reagin is derived from a fairly common Irish personal name Riagán. This name itself is derived from the Gaelic rí, which means "king." Notable individuals who share the Reagin surname include American football player Ray Reagins, psychologist Robert Reagor, civil rights activist Mary Frances Reagin, and artist and actor Jonathan Reagin.
Famous people with the name Reagin
- Ronald Reagan: 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. He was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
- Maureen Reagan: Adopted daughter of Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman. She was an outspoken political activist and founder of the National Network of Republican Women.
- Patti Davis: An actress and the daughter of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. She is also an author and an animal rights activist.
- Michael Reagan: The adopted son of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. He is a political commentator and the founder of The Reagan Group.
- Michael Dennis Reagan: A well-known Republican fund-raiser and the son of Ronald Reagan by his first wife, Margaret Roberts.
- Glynn M. Reagin: An American mathematician and professor who taught at Southern Illinois University.
- Lawrence E. Reagin: An American physicist and professor of physics at Duke University.
- Roger Reagin: A contemporary painter who is best known for his paintings depicting scenes from the Bible.
- Jonathan Reagin: An American composer and musician. He has written music for film, television and video games, as well as for stage musicals.
- Willard Reagin: An American businessman and the founder of the Reagin Corporation.