Possible Origins of the Name 'Fagan'

One of the reasons that we cannot, at this point call ourselves a 'Clan Association' is that at this point in time we cannot claim descendancey from one specific source for all Fagans. That is why we call ourselves the "Association of Fagan Tribes."

According to Edward MacLysaght[1], Fagan - usually of Norman origin in Dublin and Meath. Sometimes Ó Faodhagáin in Co. Louth which, however, is there usually anglicized Fegan. Dr. John Ryan and other scholars regard this as an Oriel sept distinct from O'Hagan, with which Woulfe equates it.

Fagans. Were have possible origins as Normans, O'Hagans or our as Ó Faodhagáins.  It can be seen from the scant histories of the name, we were King-makers, owners of castles, mayors of Dublin, and clergy. Various sources suggest that the name is:

  • an Anglicized version of Ó Faodhagáin;
  • of Norman origin;
  • Ó Faodhagáin is a variant of Ó hAodhagan (O'Hagan) which was derived from a Patrick O'Hagan who changed his name to Fagan (circa 1180).

The Ó Faodhagáin theory:

Many 'Last Name' sites indicates that Fagan is an Anglicized version of Ó Faodhagáin from E. Airgialla (the ancient territory of Oriel). According to an Irish information website called GoIreland.com[2], it is true, a Gaelic Irish family of Ó Faodhagáin, anglicized Fagan, which belongs to Co. Louth. ...[some scholars concur with] a statement made by Fr. Woulfe that Ó Faodhagáin is a variant of Ó hAodhagan (O'Hagan) and other scholars disagree. They say it is a distinct sept of eastern Airghialla (Oriel). There Fagan, Fegan, Feighan and Feehan are numerous and much confused; probably these all derive from Ó Faodhagáin.

The Norman Origin theory:

Many "Last Name" sites as well as O'Laughlin[3] indicate that the name may be of Norman origin. There are several sources that point to Fagans as being in the first wave of Norman settlers. The Norman Fagans, according to sources, were mainly in Dublin & Meath. Much of the information I have been able to find on the Fagans is from the Dublin area.

Again, from GoIreland.com[2], In spite of its very Irish appearance (gan is one of the most common terminations of Irish surnames) Fagan must be regarded as a family name of Norman origin. At the same time it must be pointed out that it is not an English name. It is derived from the Latin word paganus. For many centuries it has been associated with Counties Dublin and Meath. As early as the year 1200 one William Fagan was the owner of extensive house property in the city of Dublin and fifty years later we find the family firmly established in the neighbouring counties with a seat, acquired a little later, at Feltrim, Co. Dublin. A branch of this family was also found in Kerry and another in Cork city where Christopher Fagan took refuge in 1497 - he had been a supporter of Perkin Warbeck's claim to the throne and Cork was solidly behind that pretender. From the Kerry branch were descended the Fagans who distinguished themselves in the service of France in the eighteenth century and were ennobled in that country. The name is not really numerous in Ireland - it is estimated that about two thousand of the population are so called (almost all these are natives of Leinster, fifty per cent of whom are Dubliners).

The Ó Faodhagáin variant of Ó hAodhagan (O'Hagan) theory:

Finally from GoIreland.com[2], ..."There is also a Gaelic Irish family of Ó Faodhagáin, anglicized Fagan, which belongs to Co. Louth: it may be a corrupt form of the well known name O'Hagan but Fr. John Ryan thinks not. One of these, Edmund O'Fagan, was an officer in the Ultonia regiment of the Spanish army in 1778. While the fact that Fagan is in most cases of Norman origin is accepted..." Fr. Woulfe believes that Ó Faodhagáin is a variant of Ó hAodhagan (O'Hagan) and some scholars concur.

The Patrick O'Hagan theory:

According to Willaim Arthur, M.A.[4] "The origin of the name Fagan is Gaelic. It means, "beech-tree". The Fagans were descended from Patrick O'Hagan, living A.D. 1180. O'Hagan, the posterity of Agan. Ogan, Ogyn, or Hogyn signifies, in the Welsh, young, a youth. Gaelic, Og, a young man.

While searching the Internet, I came accross this statement in a genealogy website, "Whilst researching on the internet I came across Hugh MacMahon Baron of Furney, (being the father-in-law of Patrick O'Hagan alias Fagan). Patrick was Baron of Tullagh-og in Tyrone, all this is around 1180...". At another web site I found, "One of the O'Hagans aquired territory in Meath by marriage to a O'Melaghlin. Walter DeLacy gave all his land rights in Meath to O'Hagan. O'Hagan then changed his name to FAGAN and became a DeLacy supporter (In 1205 Hugh de Lacey was granted all the land of Ulster).". This is also supported by Burke's

As you can see there are difficulties finding definitive information regarding the Fagan name. What I have found indicates that in some cases, Fagan is considered a reduced Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Faodhagáin, which is most probably dialect or dirrivative forms of (Ó)Hagan and/or Ó hAgáin; and in other cases it seems to have Norman origins; and in other cases simply a name change by an individual. If anyone has done further research on this and can assist me in clarifying this for our clan, please contact me.

If Fagan is a derivative of O'Hagan...

(Ó)Hagan, Ó hAgáin is a Gaelic surname meaning descendant of Ogán (diminutive of Óg meaning "young"). These are northern variants of Ó hOgáin. The Ó hOgáin were a sept of the Cineál Eoghain (Progeny, Kindred or Race of Eoghan) who were chiefs of Cineál Fearghusa (Progeny of Fearghusa) who were seated at Tullaghoge (Tulach-og, 'the hill of the youths') in Tyrone. It was the privilege of the Ó hOgáin to inaugurate The Ó Neill. The Ó hOgáin have also been described as a sept of the Cineál Eoghain who were chiefs of Cineál Tighearnaigh (Progeny of Tighearnaigh). Ó hAodhagáin is also described as a sept of Orghialla (Oriel) and is sometimes so anglicised.

As noted above, there are theories that Ó Faodhagáin is a variant of Ó hAodhagan (O'Hagan), and we know that Patrick O'Hagan, "Baron" of Tullagh-og (Tullahogue) changed his name to Fagan around 1180 (it is not clear if the name change occured before or after his tenure as "Baron").

...a wee bit of O'Hagan History:

Until the destruction of Gaelic order in the 17th Century the O'Hagans were one of the most powerful and influential families in Ulster, holding the title Lord of Tullohogue. Chiefs of the Clan Feargusa, they descended from Fergus grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages. King of Ireland from 370 to 406. For over six hundred years the O'Hagans were hereditary brehons and inaugurators of O'Neill as King of Ulster.

According to tradition, O'Hagan inaugurated O'Neill by putting on his slipper hence the shoe always appears in one version of the Coat of Arms. In right of their profession they were granted vast Estates in Dungannon Upper Barony in East Tyrone. Before the 1200's branches of the sept were established in Monoghan and Armagh and soon spread into neighbouring Antrim, Derry and Down. Two places called Ballyagan, one in Derry and the other in Antrim attest to the O'Hagans predominance in the region.

During the 17th Century O'Hagans staunchly opposed English aggression and a number were at the Battle of Kinsale in 1603, suffering great losses with the dispossessions that followed. Some were hanged at Carrickfergus County Antrim.

Of the many notables, the best known is Turlough O'Hagan Chief of the Name who journeyed to Wicklow in 1590 to Hugh O'Donnell to Ulster following the latter's dramatic escape from imprisonment in Dublin Castle. Ivor O'Hagan tutor of St Malachy (c 1100) was a member of the Armagh Branch

References:

  • 1 Edward MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, 6th edition (Dublin, Ireland, Irish Academic Press Ltd., 1985) ISBN 0-7165-2366-3
  • 2 GoIreland.com is operated by Gulliver Ireland, which is headquartered in Killorglin, County Kerry and is "Ireland’s leading cost effective provider of tourist information and reservations." The URL for the information regarding the Fagan name is http://www.goireland.com/genealogy/scripts/Family.asp?FamilyID=118
  • 3 Michael C. O'Laughlin, The Irish Book of Arms, (Kansas City, Missouri, USA, Irish Genealogical Foundation, 2000) ISBN 0-940134-86-1
  • 4 Arthur, William, M.A. An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. With an Essay on their Derivation and Import. New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake & CO., 1857.