Surname McGugan - Meaning and Origin
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McGugan: What does the surname McGugan mean?
The surname McGugan is of Scottish origin and is mainly found in the region of the Isle of Islay, Argyll. The name is derived from the Gaelic name "MacGhugain," which translates to "son of the young." This implies it was originally used to denote the son of a man who was known as the "young" one, perhaps indicating his age relative to others with the he had the same first name or within his family. Over time, it evolved into various forms, including McGugan, MacGugan, and McGougan. Like many surnames of Gaelic origin, the name is descriptive and reflects the clan system prevalent in Scotland's history. It's important to note that the surname's meaning alone doesn't provide comprehensive information about the family's origins, achievements, or status—those can be better attained through genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGugan: Where does the name McGugan come from?
The surname McGugan is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic MacDhùghain, meaning "son of Dugan". The Dugan clan were located in the Argyll region in western Scotland. This surname evolved through various spellings such as MacGugan, McGugan, and MacPookan before finally becoming McGugan and MacGugan.
Today, the surname McGugan is more common in countries where Scottish immigrants settled, particularly in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also still found in Scotland, particularly in areas with historic links to the clan, such as Argyll. However, it's important to note that the surname is not concentrated in one specific region, due to widespread diaspora, making it relatively sparse throughout these countries.
Variations of the surname McGugan
The surname McGugan is of Scottish origin, stemming from the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish kingdom. It is synonymous with the name MacGowan or McGowan, which in Gaelic can be spelled Mac Ghobhainn, meaning 'son of the smith.' A few of the many spelling variations of this surname include McGowan, MacGowan, MacGowin, MacGowen, McGowin, Magowan, MacGow, McGow, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGoo, McGoo, and McGugan.
When the family emigrated to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries, the name was further 'Anglicized' into forms such as Gowans and Goan. Changes to the spelling occurred mostly due to discrepancies in the transferring of Gaelic to English, and the lack of a standardized language at that time.
In some instances, the name might be linked or mistakenly interchangeable with McGuigan, however, it is a separate surname of Irish origin.
Please note, the various derivations listed may carry slightly different meanings or origination stories, but are considered by genealogists and historians under the same broad 'family' of names connecting back to the original Gaelic 'Mac Ghobhainn.'
Famous people with the name McGugan
- Hugh McGugan: Scottish footballer who represented Scotland at youth, under-21 and full international level.
- George McGugan: Canadian lawyer, businessman and politician who served as mayor of Ottawa from 1967 to 1971.
- Jim McGugan: Irish boxer, best known for his fights in the British flyweight and featherweight divisions in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Craig McGugan: Scottish footballer who played for Newcastle United in the 1990s.
- Peter McGugan: Australian illustrator, associated with the Australian comics industry from the late 1940s.
- Eddie McGugan: British actor, best known for his roles in popular television shows such as The Bill and Wycliffe.
- Sheree McGugan: Canadian field hockey player who competed in the 1982 and 1984 Summer Olympics.
- James McGugan: British actor best known for his performances in the BBC drama series The Last Kingdom and Poldark.
- David McGugan: Scottish footballer and manager who played for Rangers in the Scottish league between 1960 and 1978.
- Billy McGugan: Northern Irish professional footballer who played for various clubs in the Scottish and English leagues throughout his career.