Surname Fean - Meaning and Origin
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Fean: What does the surname Fean mean?
The surname Fean is of Irish origin, and has various spellings given different Irish dialects, such as Feeney and Feighan. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name O Fiocháin, meaning 'son of Fíochán', which is derived from the Old Irish collaboration of two elements: fío, meaning 'raven' and cháin, meaning 'friendly'.
The combination of elements implies that the forebears of the Fean family had a sorrowful, intimidating, friendly nature with a good sense of honesty. It likely also implies a strong spiritual bond with the wild Irish forests and its inhabitants.
Historically, the Fean name has been associated with a renowned Irish ancestor, 'Fínán of Clonard' (or 'St. Finan'), who was an abbot of the monastery of Clonard in County Meath in Ireland. St. Finan was known for his teachings of Christianity and the arts to the monks who devotely followed him.
In modern times, the surname is still highly popular in Ireland, though it is also seen in small populations throughout the world. It is likely that many families who bear this surname today are descendants of the Irish who once followed St. Finan.
In summary, the surname Fean is of Irish origin, deriving from the Old Irish name O Fíocháin. According to tradition, it is associated with the renowned St. Finan of Clonard and implies a strong spiritual bond with the wild lands and inhabitants of Ireland. The surname is still common in Ireland, as well as small populations elsewhere in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisFean: Where does the name Fean come from?
The last name Fean is mostly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In England, it is mainly concentrated in the Irish communities of the major cities, particularly Liverpool and Manchester. In Scotland, the name is most prevalent in the city of Glasgow. It is a relatively uncommon surname in Ireland, with the majority located in Galway and Donegal.
In the United States, the surname Fean can be found primarily in parts of the country with large Irish populations, such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. It is also present in a few other states, such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California, but in much smaller numbers. It is not easy to find any significant numbers of people with this name outside of these core areas, though there are a few scattered examples across the US.
In Canada, the surname Fean is also most commonly found in areas with strong Irish ties. These include parts of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Other pockets of the population can be found in Ottawa and Charlottetown.
Despite its rarity today, the name Fean was once much more common in all these countries, with the decline likely due to a combination of emigration and assimilation over the last few centuries.
Variations of the surname Fean
The surname Fean is derived from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic names O Fionn and MacFhionn. The Irish spelling is Ó Fíonn or Mac Fhíonn, while the Scottish Gaelic spelling is Mac Fhìonn. The surname is related to the Gaelic word "Fionn" which means "fair", "white", or "blessed".
The variants and spellings for the surname include Feean, Fean, Fian, Fin, Find, Foin, and Fyen. There are also other spellings such as Feene, Feichin, Fien, Fiench, Fing, Fion, Fione, Fyonne, and Phin.
The surnames that are associated with Fean are Feeney, Finn, Finney, Foy, and Foye.
The Anglicized version of the surname is Faynen. This version is found mainly in North America, where the spelling might be Feverien, Feven, Feyen, Fian, Fienn, Finen, Finon, Fion, Fyen, and Phean.
The Scottish version of the surname is MacFheine and MacVhee. Variations include MacVhaine, MacVhen, McFeena, McFen, McFenon, McFion, McVain, McVainey, and McVhane.
The Welsh version is Pheene and these spellings are Phan, Phain, Phane, Phuan, Phun, Phene, and Phyane.
Fean is a unique surname and there are many variations and spellings, and associated surnames. No matter what spelling one uses, its origin remains the same: the Gaelic word "Fionn" which means fair, white or blessed.
Famous people with the name Fean
- Kurt Fean: a British commercial and music video director.
- Liam Fean: a Canadian actor, writer, and producer.
- Colin Fean: an Irish/Canadian screenwriter and film producer.
- Kat Forsyth-Fean: an Australian actress, singer, and songwriter.
- Thomas Fean: an English actor, best known for appearing in television shows such as EastEnders and Holby City.
- Clara Fean: a French baroque opera singer.
- Lou Fean: an American television producer and writer.
- Michael Fean: an Irish businessman and politician.
- Ben Fean: an Australian businessman and politician.
- Mary Fean: an Irish academic and former Senator.