Surname Berghan - Meaning and Origin
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Berghan: What does the surname Berghan mean?
The surname Berghan is a relatively uncommon Anglo-Saxon surname. It is derived from the ancient English term "beorh", which means hill or hillside. Thus, it is believed that the original bearer of the name was someone who lived on or near a hill or hillside, or possibly even someone who took their name from a prominent feature of the local landscape. Historians have suggested that the surname may also have its origins in the Old English personal name "Beorht", meaning "bright" or "brilliant".
The earliest recorded mention of the Berghan surname dates back to the 12th century in England. It was mentioned as a part of a land transaction between certain families. During the 18th and 19th centuries the surname began to spread widely throughout Britain and other parts of Europe. It is now most common in the United Kingdom, although there are a handful of people bearing this name in the United States.
Today, the Berghan surname is still used in many parts of the world to signify a person's family history or origins. It is suggestive of a person who was born on or near a hill or hillside, of someone who was once considered to be “bright” or “brilliant”, or even of someone who simply took their surname from a prominent feature in the local landscape.
Order DNA origin analysisBerghan: Where does the name Berghan come from?
The last name Berghan is primarily found in the country of Bulgaria, and is the fourth most common surname in the country. It is estimated that somewhere between 10,000 to 40,000 people today have the last name Berghan. Outside of Bulgaria, the name is rarely seen. There are also families with the last name located in Yugoslavia, Hungary, the United States, and Canada.
Berghan is a derivation of the Slavic given name Barger and is believed to be a patronymic surname meaning “son of Barger”. The suffix “han” is a Turkic title that can refer to a large estate, but in this case, it was likely used to represent nobility.
The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 16th century when a Drahoslav Bargerhan was listed as a council member in Belgrade. During the 19th century, many members of the Berghan family moved to the United States and Canada as a result of a political upheaval in Bulgaria.
The Berghan family tradition is very much alive today, as Bulgarians consider family ties and name origin to be important factors in defining their sense of identity. Many Berghans hold onto their roots by taking pride in their last name and proudly carrying it on.
Variations of the surname Berghan
The Berghan surname has origins in 17th century Scotland and has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as follows:
Bergenreich: The German variation of the Berghan surname, with variants Bergenrick, Bergenerich and Bergensrick
Burgan: Derived from ‘Berghan’, this alternative spelling emerged in the 18th century
Brgowan: This variant of the Berghan surname is of Scottish origin
Burgon: A slightly variant spelling of the Berghan surname
Berrigan: Derived from the Scottish Gaelic ‘Mac Giolla Bhrighde’, this version of the Berghan surname emerged in the 18th century
Berrens: This variation of the Berghan surname is of Irish origin
MacGillivray: The Scottish Gaelic version of the Berghan surname
MacGilvra: An alternative version of the Scottish Gaelic ‘MacGillivray’
McGilvray: Another variation of the Scottish Gaelic ‘MacGillivray’
McGill: An alternate version of the Scottish Gaelic ‘Mac Gillivray’
Gill: A spelling variant of the Scottish Gaelic ‘Mac Gillivray’
These are the various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin for the surname Berghan. Despite the differences in the spellings, they all stem from the same root and the origins of the Berghan surname can be traced back to a common source in Scotland in the 17th century.
Famous people with the name Berghan
- Ronald Berghan: German professional footballer
- Graham Berghan: Irish professional footballer
- Eamon Berghan: Irish hurler
- J. W. Berghan: English composer
- Peter Berghan: Editor-in-Chief of Manchester Evening News
- Thomas Berghan: Irish cricket administrator
- Nikki Berghan: Australian field hockey captain
- Brendan Berghan: Australian field hockey player
- Daniel Berghan: Irish Gaelic football player
- William J. Berghan: Canadian soldier in World War I
- Michael Berghan: Irish Gaelic football player