Surname Leehan - Meaning and Origin
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Leehan: What does the surname Leehan mean?
The last name Leehan is an anglicized variation of the Gaelic surname mac Laoidhigh, meaning “son of Laoidhigh.” The Gaelic form of the name was first used as a patronymic by descendants of a man known as Laoidhigh, a personal name which is mostly likely derived from the Gaelic term logh, meaning “calf.” As such, the name mac Laoidhigh suggests some decorative or heraldic symbol related to a calf or similar young bovine. An image of a young bull appears on some of the earliest coat of arms associated with the name Leehan.
Other variations of the surname include the variations Lee, Lygan, leeheny, leehen, leeham and leonard. The prefix Mac, used in the original Gaelic form of the name, was often dropped in the assimilation process into Anglicized versions of the surname centuries ago.
The personal name Laoidhigh was popular during medieval times in Ireland. It was particularly common among a branch of the Irish population known as the Gaelics, who were located in what is now Connemara in northwestern County Galway. Today, Leehan can still be found throughout Connemara, as well as in other parts of Ireland.
The Leehan surname has been traced back centuries ago to the late 13th-century roots, suggesting that bearers of the name have been in the region for many generations. The spelling variants of Leehan and its other derived forms are now scattered across the globe, as descendants of the original Irish Gaelics have settled in various countries.
Order DNA origin analysisLeehan: Where does the name Leehan come from?
The last name Leehan is most common today in the United States and some parts of Canada. It is of Irish origin, although some scribes suggest the name could have originated from England or Wales.
In the United States, the Leehan name is concentrated in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland. The name has spread to the South, with pockets in North Carolina, and it also has established itself in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.
According to SurnameDB, the estimated population of Leehans in the United States in 2020 was 1,991. In Canada, the last name is primarily found in Ontario and British Columbia.
The name first appears in Irish records in the 13th century. In 1870, it was recorded more than 400 times in the United States census. No records shed any light on the earliest known bearer of the name, and its possible etymology has been subject to much speculation. Some people believe the name was derived from O'Leathghain or O'Lighin, two variations of the Irish surname. Others suggest the name could come from an Old English word meaning 'lion hood', or from the Gaelic leighan, meaning 'minor hill'.
Today, many Leehans can be found all over North America as descendants of Irish immigrants who settled here during the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Leehan
Leehan is a surname of English derivation, originating as a nickname for someone who lived near a meadow or pasture.
The variants, spellings and surname of the same origin for Leehan are:
Leehanne, Liehan, Liehann, Lihan, Lhehan, and Lyehan.
Leehan is an anglicised version of the Irish name “Ó Laoidhín”, meaning “descendant of ‘Laoidhín’”, an old for of the modern Irish name “Laoighse”. TheÓ Laoidhín name is derived from the verb “laoigh”, meaning “warrior”. The variations of this name include: O Laoidhin, O Laheen, Laheen and Lahehn.
In Scotland, the variants of this surname include MacLheighinn, MacLehan, MacLeannan and MacLeanan. The name relates to MacLehinn, a nickname for someone from Leith, a suburb of Edinburgh.
In the Welsh language, the equivalent spelling of Leehan is “Lleian”; although there are no known variants to this spelling, the name also functions in the form of “Llyian”.
A lesser known spelling of Leehan is “Leyhan”, which is found mainly among the Danish speaking population of Norway.
This broad range of surnames and variants indicates that the origin of Leehan is varied and it is important to carefully consider the associated spellings and surnames when conducting research into the family's ancestry.
Famous people with the name Leehan
- Eugene Leehan: Actor, known for roles in films such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), A Lonely Place for Dying (2009), and The Departed (2006).
- Emma Leehan: Professional dancer and actress, known for roles in TV shows such as Star Crossed (2014), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-16) and Shades of Blue (2016).
- Hunter Leehan: Actor, known for roles in films such as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Airspeed (1996), and The Goodbye Girl (1991).
- Melissa Leehan: TV presenter, best known for her roles on BBC’s Balamory (2002-2005) and CBeebies (2005-2007).
- Jess Leehan: Stand-up comedian, writer, and producer, best known for her work on The Jester Show (2013) and The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015-2017).
- Sarah Leehan: Actor, best known for her roles on the TV shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999) and Xena: The Warrior Princess (1995-2001).
- Dominick Leehan: Voice actor, best known for his roles in video games such as Saints Row: The Third (2011) and Resident Evil 5 (2009).
- Bryan Leehan: Music composer, known for his work on films such as The Wacky Adventures of Fishtron (2013) and Benny & Clyde the Musical (2016).
- Terry Leehan: Football coach, best known for his work at Wisconsin Badgers (2007-09) and Oregon State Beavers (2010-2015).
- Christopher Leehan: Film director and actor, perhaps best known for his work on films such as The Cardinal (2010) and I’m Not Crazy (2013).