Regan
Regan | |
---|---|
Language(s) | Irish |
Origin | |
Region of origin | Ireland |
Meaning | From ri "sovereign, king" and the diminutive -in and means "the king's child". [1][2] |
Other names | |
Variant(s) | Riagán, Ríogáin, Ó Riagáin, Ó Ríogáin, O Regan, O'Reagan, O'Regan, Riggin, Riggins |
Footnotes: [3] |
The family name Regan, and its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to originate in ancient gaelic from ri "sovereign, king" and the diminutive -in, "the king's child", transliterating as "little king". [4] Descendant of Riagán'; the name of two distinct families: one seated in ancient Meath, and the other in Thomond. The O'Regans of Meath were a branch of the southern Ui Neill and one of the four Tribes of Tara. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion, they were lords of south Breagh in Meath and the north of the present Co. Dublin, and apparently a powerful family. They took a leading part in the wars against the Danes. The annalists, under the year 1029, record a notable triumph of Mathghamhain Ó Riagáin, king of Breagh, over the foreigners, when he made prisoner Amhlaoibh, son of Sitric, king of Dublin, and only released him on payment of an enormous ransom, including the celebrated Sword of Carlus. The O'Regans were dispossessed soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion and dispersed through Ireland. The O'Regans of Thomond are a dalcassian family said to be descended from Riagán, son of Donncuan, the brother of Brian Boru. The O'Regans are now numerous all over Ireland. The name is often pronounced Ó Réagáin. [5] The feminine unisex forename, Regan, is likely to have derived sometime later from Regina, the feminine form of Rex (stem reg-), which is also the source of Reginald. Rex means "king"; thus, Regina means "queen."[2]
Persons with the surname
- Bill Regan (disambiguation)
- Bob Regan, American country music songwriter
- Brian Regan (disambiguation), several people
- Bridget Regan (born 1982), American actress
- Charles Tate Regan (1878-1943), British ichthyologist
- Daithí Regan (born 1968), Irish hurler
- David M. Regan, Canadian psychologist
- Donald Regan (1918–2003), U.S. Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan
- Edward Regan (1930-2014), American politician and government bureaucrat
- Eugene Regan, Irish barrister and politician
- Fionn Regan (born 1981), Irish folk musician
- Geoff Regan born 1959), Canadian politician and federal cabinet minister, son of Gerald Regan
- Gerald Regan (born 1928), 19th premier of Nova Scotia, father of Geoff, Laura and Nancy Regan
- Jack Regan (1912-1988), Australian rules footballer
- James Regan (disambiguation)
- Joan Regan (1928–2013), English singer
- John Regan (disambiguation)
- Judith Regan (born 1953), book publisher
- Julianne Regan (born 1962), English singer, songwriter and musician, lead singer of the band All About Eve
- Kelly Regan (born 1961), Canadian politician, wife of Geoff Regan
- Kenneth M. Regan (1891-1959), American politician
- Larry Regan (1930-2009), Canadian National Hockey League player, coach, manager and executive
- Laura Regan (born 1977), Canadian actress, daughter of Gerald Regan
- Linda Regan (born 1949), English actress who appeared in the British TV show Hi-de-Hi!
- Mark Regan (born 1972), English rugby union player
- Mike Regan (disambiguation)
- Nancy Regan (born 1966), Canadian news anchor, journalist and TV personality, daughter of Gerald Regan
- Patrick Regan (disambiguation)
- Phil Regan (actor) (1906-1996)
- Phil Regan (baseball) (born 1937), American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Terry Regan (born 1958), retired Australian rugby league footballer
- Tom Regan (born 1938), American philosopher, animal rights activist and academic
- Tony Óg Regan (born 1983), Irish hurler
- Trish Regan (born 1972 or 1973), American broadcast journalist and author
- Vincent Regan, actor
Persons with the given name
- Regan Hagar, American rock drummer
- Regan Harrison (born 1977), Australian retired swimmer
- Regan Hartley (born 1990), Miss New Hampshire for 2011
- Regan King (born 1980), New Zealand rugby union footballer
- Regan Lamble (born 1991), Australian racewalker
- Regan Lauscher (born 1980), Canadian luger
- Regan Mizrahi (born 2000), American child actor
- Regan Poole (born 1998), Welsh footballer
- Regan Smith (born 1983), American stock car racing driver
- Regan Upshaw (born 1975), American retired National Football League player
Fictional characters
- Regan (King Lear), a daughter of King Lear in Shakespeare's play King Lear
- Regan MacNeil, the central character of the novel The Exorcist
- Regan O'Neill, the narrator and viewpoint character of the novel Luna by Julie Anne Peters
- Regan Wyngarde, also known as Lady Mastermind, a Marvel Comics villain
- Jack Regan (The Sweeney), protagonist of the British television police drama The Sweeney
- Regan Hamleigh, character in The Pillars of the Earth novel and miniseries
- Rory Regan in the DC Comics Universe
- Charlotte Sternwood Regan The Big Sleep