Frequency: (8889)
(number of times this surname appears in a sample database of 88.7 million names, representing one third of the 1997 US population)
Irish: reduced form of O’Regan, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ríagáin ‘descendant of Riagán’, a personal name of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to ríodhgach ‘impulsive’, ‘furious’. See also Ryan.
GIVEN NAMES: Irish 8%. Brendan (6), Eamon (2), Seamus (2), Bridie, Caitlin, Donovan, Dympna, Fintan, James Patrick, Kieran, Malachy, Michael Patrick.
See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.
