Surname Feagin - Meaning and Origin

Feagin: What does the surname Feagin mean?

The surname Feagin is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic term "O Fiachain" which means “descendant of Fiach”, ‘Fiach’ being a personal name meaning ‘raven’. It was a nickname for someone considered to have the characteristics symbolic of a raven. The raven was a common symbolic bird in many ancient cultures; in Celtic mythology, it is associated with prophecy and wisdom. The surname also has geographical origins, specifically from two distinct areas in County Galway and County Waterford, Ireland. Names were often influenced by the local geography, where someone lived, held land, or was born.

Feagin: Where does the name Feagin come from?

The surname Feagin is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O Fiachain," which means "descendant of Fiach." Fiach is a personal name that translates loosely to "raven" in English. As with many Irish surnames, over time the original Gaelic expression was phonetically Anglicized, resulting in variants such as Feagin, Fagan, Fegan, and others.

The Great Famine in Ireland during the mid-19th century led to a significant Irish diaspora, with many Irish individuals emigrating to English-speaking countries such as the United States and England. As a result of this migration, the Feagin surname and its variants can now be found throughout these countries and others with Irish immigrant populations.

The Feagin surname is not particularly common, and it may be more prevalent in areas with a strong Irish diaspora such as the United States and England. According to recent databases, the highest concentration of individuals with the surname Feagin is in the United States, more specifically in the southern states. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that this does not mean that every individual sharing the surname has Irish ancestry, as surnames can change over time and through marriages.

Variations of the surname Feagin

The surname Feagin is primarily of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname ó Fiacháin that was later anglicized. Some common variants and alternate spellings include Fagan, Feagan, Feagon, Fegen, Fegan, Fagen, Fagin, and Phagan. The surname Fagan is more commonly used in Ireland while Feagin is more prevalent in the US.

Feagin can also be a variant of the English surname Fagan, which originates from the middle English words "vagan" (wanderer) or "fagin" (little ardent one).

Some variants can occur due to regional differences in pronunciation and spelling. In some cases, the 'O' prefix to Irish surnames, meaning "descendant of", was dropped during the process of Anglicization. The introduction of the English alphabets to Irish names also led to the phonetic translation and hence, led to different spellings of the same surname.

In some cases, the same surname can be spelled differently in records even for the same person. Thus, if one is doing genealogical research on the surname Feagin, it would be helpful to consider all its potential variations and spellings.

Famous people with the name Feagin

• Steven Feagin: American professional basketball player.
• Danny Feagin: American professional soccer player.
• Ben Feagin: American drag racer who has won a number of championships.
• Clifford Feagin: American retired astronaut who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2005.
• Evan Feagin: American football player.
• Eddie Feagin: Major League Baseball pitcher.
• John Feagin: former American football quarterback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Mary Feagin: American country music singer.
• David Feagin: American fashion photographer.
• Paul Feagin: American historian and author of the book “The Transformation of the American Democratic Republic”.
• Matt Feagin: American poet and director of the City of Miami Independent Stage Alliance.
• Blake Feagin: American wrestler, amateur wrestler, and bodybuilder.
• Bill Feagin: American actor and singer.
• George Feagin: American actor, stage director, and writer.
• Don Feagin: American reality star and survivor contestant who appeared in “Survivor: Congo.”
• James Feagin: Divine Word missionary who served in Cameroon.
• Charlie Feagin: American musician, producer, and leader of the blues band Secret Society.
• Grant Feagin: American journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist.
• Tyson Feagin: American musician and drummer for the metal band Mastodon.
• Gray Feagin: American painter and sculptor.

Other surnames

Feagins

Comments or additions to the name "Feagin"

15.03.2024
Many slave descendants have the name Feagin