Surname Naughton - Meaning and Origin

Naughton: What does the surname Naughton mean?

The last name Naughton is of Irish origin and dates back to pre 10th century. It is derived from the Gaelic surname "Neachtain" or "O'Neachtain." The name is linked to two well-known ancient Irish clans; one from the regions of Corca Laoidhe (present-day southwest County Cork) and the other from Ui Maine (known as Hy Many in English) which is located in mid-Galway and south Roscommon. The name "Neachtain" is considered to come from an early Irish personal name, "Neacht," which translates to "pure" or "clean." However, others interpret it to mean "strength." The prefix ‘O’ attached to much Irish names typically means ‘grandson of.’ It implies a continuation and close connection to their ancestry. Therefore, "O'Neachtain" essentially translates to "descendant of Neacht." Notable people with the surname Naughton include Jim Naughton, an American journalist, and David Naughton, an American actor. It is relatively popular in Ireland, with a significant number of bearers in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, reflecting the paths of Irish emigration.

Naughton: Where does the name Naughton come from?

The last name Naughton is most commonly found today in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Irish variant of the name, O'Naughton, appears most often in the western counties of Galway, Mayo, and Clare. In the United Kingdom, the last name is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, particularly in counties Down and Antrim.

Historically, the name is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Neachtain, which was derived from the Old Gaelic name Neachtán. The Gaelic form was originally derived from the Old Gaelic adjectiveneacht, meaning “descendant” or “offspring.” In some cases, Naughton may also be derived from the Scottish surname Mac anTomais, which means “son of Thomas.”

Today, the surname Naughton is most frequently found in places with large populations of Irish descent, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. Additionally, it is also widespread in English-speaking countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. A quick search on the internet reveals that the name Naughton is particularly popular in the United States, with more than nine thousand people sharing the same last name. As such, it is easy to find people with this surname in most parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Naughton

Naughton is a common Irish surname of Gaelic origin, derived from the Gaelic O’Nachtáin. The prefix ‘O’ indicates ‘descendant of’ or ‘grandson of’, while Nachtáin is a diminutive of the personal name Naughte, derived from the Gaelic word for ‘courageous’.

Variant spellings of the surname Naughton include Naughten, O’Naughtan, Noughtan, Naughtin, Naughtene, Naughteen, Naughtaine, Naughtein, Noughtin, Naughtonne, Naughtaine, Noughtane, Naughtayne, and Naughtonne.

The surnames MacNaughton, McNaughton, Mcnaughtan, Nacton, Nacheton, Naughtin, and Noughtone are all derived from Naughton, indicating the same ancestral source.

The Naughton surname is found around much of Ireland. It is most common in the province of Ulster, particularly in counties Donegal, Monaghan, and Antrim. Its spelling and variants are also found in Scotland, in particular in the region of Argyll, as well as English-speaking countries across the world, as a result of Irish emigration.

Famous people with the name Naughton

• Gavin Naughton: an actor and the brother of actor, Andrew Naughton.
• Andrew Naughton: an actor and the brother of actor, Gavin Naughton.
• Kevin Naughton: American actor and film producer.
• Kristen Naughton: acclaimed producer, director, and writer on the Amazon hit series, Transparent.
• Maggie Naughton: actress known for roles in Dawson’s Creek and The Practice.
• Ray Naughton: former Scottish footballer.
• François Naughton: Swiss architect and award-winning designer.
• Patrick Naughton: software engineer and original founder of Starwave, a company that launched ESPN.com.
• Tom Naughton: American consumer advocate, writer, and comedian.
• Vince Naughton: American composer and producer, known for his score of the film, The Big Lebowski.

Other surnames

NaughtNaughten