Surname Felan - Meaning and Origin

Felan: What does the surname Felan mean?

The surname Felan is believed to be of Irish origin. It is thought to be derived from Ó Failín, which translates to "descendant of Failín". Failín is a Gaelic personal name likely derived from the Old Irish word “fael” meaning "wolf". The name is most common in County Sligo in the Province of Connacht in Ireland and is believed to have originated from there.

The Felan surname first appears in documents from the 16th century in County Sligo and the families of Felan began to spread out across Ireland. The majority of descendants of this surname that left Ireland established themselves in the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries. It has since spread across the world and is now a very common surname in many countries.

Today, the surname Felan represents independence, courage and strength. As a surname its presence has been the marker of resilience in the face of struggle and hardship, both in its country of origin and around the world. Those who carry the surname of Felan can rightly be proud of the history and hardships their ancestors faced and endured.

Felan: Where does the name Felan come from?

The last name Felan is most common in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, where it is both a surname and a given name. It first appears in Spanish records from the 1500s in various spellings such as Felans, Felanis, and Felán.

The origin of the name is unclear, with some sources suggesting that it is derived from the Spanish term for “shepherd”, while others suggest that it refers to a town located in the province of Salamanca, an autonomous community in Spain.

Today, the surname Felan can be found in many Spanish-speaking countries and communities in the Americas, including Mexico, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, El Salvador, and Honduras. The popularity of the name varies from country to country, with some records showing that it is one of the thirty most common surnames in Mexico, while in Guatemala, it is far less common.

The surname is also found in France, Portugal, and Italy, although it is less common in these countries. The prevalence of the name further afield is likely explained by the historic migrations of Spanish-speaking people throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Felan

The surname Felan is a variant of the Gaelic surname O Faolán, which is an Anglicised version of the Irish phrase Ó Faoláin, meaning "descendant of Faolán". This name is derived from faol, which is an ancient Irish word describing a wolf. Faolán itself is a combination of 'faol' and 'an', which translates to mean "little wolf".

Felan is a recognizable and often recognized spelling of the surname, but there are several others that represent *Ó Faoláin* including the fully Gaelic version, Faolain and Faolan.

Similar surnames to Felan include Foalain/Faolain, Phalen, Phelan, O'Phelan, and Whelan.

These variants are all derived from the same Gaelic root, but the spellings may differ in various regions and languages. The first appearances of the surname date back to the 12th century in the Mac Faolain family of County Clare, Ireland.

Today, Felan is a popular surname in Irish and English-speaking countries, and it can be found across the globe. Some notable people with the surname include actors James Patrick Phelan, Michael Redmond Phelan, and musician Tim Felan.

The surname offers a truly international presence because of its many variations and spellings, which gives those who share it a unique sense of identity and belonging.

Famous people with the name Felan

• Rafael Alonzo Felan: Mexican chef and the executive producer of Felan Sobremesa, a YouTube channel created to memorialize his late father's home cooked recipes.
• Celina Felan: American singer and actress who was featured in the Broadway National Tour of Disney's “Aladdin.”
• Tony Felan: American record producer who has won multiple Sonicbids Awards and has worked with numerous Grammy-nominated artists.
• Keldrick Felan: American actor who has appeared in the films Sons of Anarchy and Zombieland: Double Tap.
• Andrea Felan: American journalist and podcast host who has appeared on various television networks including CNN, NBC News, Fox News, and ABC News.
• Kenneth W. Felan: American mechanical engineer and a two-time NASA Astronaut who has completed four space shuttle missions.
• Tex Felan: American vocalist and guitarist of the folk punk band, The Felan Siblings.
• Daniel Edward Felan: American historian and author who has written and edited multiple books on the early days of the Republic of Texas.
• William C. Felan Jr.: American musician, composer, and performer who has appeared on multiple television specials and live theatre productions.
• Jeff Felan: American college football coach who was the head coach of The Citadel Bulldogs from 1982 to 1984.

Other surnames

Felander