Surname Nunan - Meaning and Origin

Nunan: What does the surname Nunan mean?

The surname Nunan is an Irish and Scottish surname of ancient origins. It is derived from a Gaelic patronymic surname which is derived from the name ‘O'Nualláin’, meaning ‘descendant of Nualláin’. The personal name Nualláin likely comes from the Gaelic word ‘nuall’ which means ‘army’ or ‘host’.

The Nunan family has been located in County Cork in Ireland for many centuries. This is where the main sept of this surname is found. The surname is also found in Scotland and in a few other locations around the British Isles.

In terms of its meaning, Nunan is a surname that is often associated with strength, courage, and bravery. At its root, the patronymic title honors a leader - a person of bravery and strength who was capable of leading a host or an army successfully.

There are also several derivations of the surname around the world, including variants as ‘Nonan’, ‘Nonen’, ‘Noonan’, and ‘O’Noonan’. Whatever its spelling, the surname Nunan has a proud history and is a symbol of strength and leadership.

Nunan: Where does the name Nunan come from?

The last name Nunan is most common today in Australia, where it first emerged in the 19th century. Records show that the first Nunan clansmen settled in the area of New South Wales, and eventually spread east and southward.

The family derived its name from a form of the old Gaelic sept Mac an Nuinain, which translates to ‘son of the champion’. It is probable that ‘nun’ or ‘nunna’ is of Norse influence in the form of ‘hundsmann’ meaning ‘dog man’.

Today the Nunan name is still concentrated in the east of Australia, and is especially common in New South Wales and Victoria. In fact, it ranks number 367 in terms of frequency in Australia, making it one of the more common surnames.

It is believed that Nunan families have emigrated to all parts of the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so it is not entirely unlikely that the name is also seen in other places. However, Australia remains the primary area in which the Nunan surname is most concentrated.

Variations of the surname Nunan

The surname Nunan is thought to have originated in County Cork, Ireland. Variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin include Nunnane, O Nuanain, Nunnaine and Nuunan.

The earliest record of the surname appears to be an O Nuanain, found in its modern spelling in 1534. This is thought to be a re-occurrence of same name as Gaelic-Irish Ó Nuaháin, meaning descendant of Nuahán from the same roots of Nunan, as the prefixes "Ó" and "O" reference, respectively, a grandchild and grandparent.

It is believed to be derived from the Old Irish Ó Nuaháin and was believed to be used as an honourific title for the ancestors of a household. It is derived from the Old Irish "nuadh," which means new. Since the root name was derived from the Old Irish word for ‘new’, the surname is thought to have been originally adopted for those who were considered pioneers in Irish clans.

It is also possible the surname was derived from the Gaelic Irish "ó Mu" and "hu", which means ‘from God’. This reference to God may mean the original bearer was a religious person in the community.

Nunan and its variants have spread in the ensuing centuries, with references to a Nunan found in both Ireland and the United States during the 19th century. Nunans are found in Canada and Australia today as well.

Overall, Nunan is a surname which is thought to have originated in Ireland and its variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin are Nunnane, O Nuanain, Nunnaine and Nuunan. It is believed to be derived from Old Irish Ó Nuaháin and may reference God and religious persons. It has also spread to other countries with Nunans around the world.

Famous people with the name Nunan

• Dame Mary Jean Goode Nunan, DBE, FRGS: a prominent British geographer and educator
• William Nunan: the first Australian Antarctic Territory Magistrate
• Yuka Nunan: professional Japanese Tennis player
• Piers Nunan: an English actor
• Kathy Nunan: an American actress
• Matt Nunan: an Australian filmmaker
• John Nunan: a former British Member of Parliament
• Paul Nunan: an Irish musician
• Carlos Nunan: a Brazilian sculptor
• Liz Nunan: an English singer-songwriter
• Mike Nunan: the CEO and co-founder of Codeworks
• Katherine Nunan: an American nurse researcher
• Andrew Nunan: an Australian filmmaker
• Philip Nunan: a former Roman Catholic Bishop in Ireland
• David Nunan: an Irish poet and author
• Price Nunan: an American actor
• Mark Nunan: an Australian nuclear scientist

Other surnames

Nunamaker