Surname Biggane - Meaning and Origin

Biggane: What does the surname Biggane mean?

The surname Biggane is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic ‘O Beagáin’. This is an anglicised spelling of the word 'o' meaning 'grandson' and 'Beagáin’ meaning 'little’ or 'little one’. Beagáin can also refer to a person who was of diminutive stature. The surname Biggane is likely to be associated with people who were of lesser stature or small in size and stature.

The sept or Irish clan of Beagáin were, predominantly, found in Co. Tipperary, in the north of Ireland. They were also found in other neighboring counties such as Galway. The Beagáin family were chiefs of the territory of ‘Tuobeg’ in Co. Tipperary. This wealth of ancestry is reflected in the history of the Beagáin and Biggane families, with much of the area having been invaded by the Norman invaders around the 12th century.

The Biggane surname is also found in other parts of the world, such as Scotland and the United States. There are Beagáin and Biggane variations, which have been documented in various records since the First World War.

Bigganes are believed to have been a peaceful lot, but with a keen sense of justice and loyalty. Many of the family held positions in the Catholic Church and government, as well as leading a life of farming. Their Catholic faith was deeply intertwined with their Irish tradition. They often held gatherings to pray, dance, recite poetry, and share stories. This is part of their legacy, and other citizens of Ireland continue this tradition today.

The Biggane surname today can be found largely scattered throughout the United States, Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Although the majority of Bigganes in the modern world are of Irish origin, there is evidence to suggest that the surname was adopted by other nationalities, particularly Scots and English people in the 1800s. As such, the surname of Biggane today has taken on a two-fold meaning, both being associated with the Little Ones themselves and being a name adopted by those of another nationality.

Biggane: Where does the name Biggane come from?

The last name Biggane is a common surname in many English speaking countries. In the United Kingdom, the surname is found in greater numbers in counties such as Essex, Suffolk, London and Wiltshire. It is also particularly common in the Republic of Ireland, with especially high concentrations in counties such as Dublin, Kildare, Wexford, Cork and Waterford.

The surname is likely to have derived from the Irish Gaelic term, Ó Beagáin, which translates as "descendant of Beagán". The name Beagán is a diminutive form of the Gaelic name Beag, which is itself derived from the Old Irish term 'becc', which roughly translates as 'little'.

In the US, the surname Biggane is most concentrated in populous states such as California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York. In California in particular, the name is most often found around the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions.

Overall, the last name Biggane is a relatively common one today, particularly in English speaking countries, particularly the UK, Ireland, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Biggane

Biggane is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Beagáin, a derivative of the Irish word beag which means “small.” The Ó Beagáin surname traces back to a family that resided in Clan Cian of County Kerry.

Due to various dialects of the Gaelic language, Biggane can be spelled multiple ways including Bagan, Beagan, Beagin, Beggan, Beggin, Beighen, Biggains, Biggan, Biggane, Biggins, Bagen, and Bogan.

Variant surnames of Ó Beagáin include Beggan, Beggs, Beggin, Beggine, Begine, Beine, Bogan, Bogen, and Boggans.

The English translation of this surname is “little.” In some cases, people with the Biggane surname may also spell it as Little. There are some variations of this such as Littlen, Littlenne, Littlein, and Littleyn.

Although the original spelling of Biggane has had many variations, it is an important part of Irish heritage that has endured for centuries.

Famous people with the name Biggane

• Mike Biggane: American radio host and television personality who is the current host of The Mike Biggane Morning Show, a popular morning show on Which Radio.
• Jane Biggane: Irish television actress and presenter best known for her role as Anne Hill in the soap opera Fair City from 1994 to 1998.
• John Biggane: American actor and voice artist who is best known for his role as John Jacobs in the long-running television series ER.
• Bill Biggane: Senior advisor and executive for the U.S. Department of Education since the early 2000s.
• Jamie Biggane: British football player who represents Birmingham City in the English Premier League.
• Chloe Biggane: Award-winning Australian musician and singer/songwriter who is best known for her hit singles “Eternity” and “Ride”.
• David Biggane: Poet and novelist who is best recognized for writing such works as The Silver Rose, Shoot the Mockingbird, and An Evil of Angels.
• Mark Biggane: American architect and urban planner best known for his waterfront development projects in the Northeastern United States.
• Julie Biggane: British-born mathematician and computer scientist who is most widely known as the principal designer of the world's first computer-based computer language, BASIC.
• Sophie Biggane: Canadian singer/songwriter who regularly tours Canada and the United States, releasing a string of independent albums.

Other surnames

BiggaloughBiggamBiggar