Surname Carnaghan - Meaning and Origin
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Carnaghan: What does the surname Carnaghan mean?
The surname Carnaghan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cearnaigh, which directly translates to ‘descendent of Cearnach.’ Cearnach is derived from the Old Gaelic word ‘cernach,’ which means ‘victorious.’ Essentially, Carnaghan can be said to mean ‘descendent of the victorious one’ in modern English.
The Carnaghans are likely to have originated in County Donegal in the northwestern part of Ireland. During the seventeenth century, many of the family emigrated from Donegal to other parts of the world, particularly the United States.
Carnaghan is a very popular Irish surname, with many with ancestral ties to the Carnaghan family thought to be living throughout the world today. The fame and global reach of the Carnaghans is arguably linked to the high number of notable individuals who have held the name. Irish cricketer BJ Smith, Australian actor Owen Carnaghan, and English cleric John Carnaghan are some of the most recognisable members of the Carnaghan family.
The surname Carnaghan carries much significance and is a reminder of the hardworking and victorious nature of its ancestral forebears. The name is a badge of honour instilled in the family to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisCarnaghan: Where does the name Carnaghan come from?
The last name Carnaghan is common in both Ireland and the United States today. In Ireland, the last name is the 16th most common surname, according to the Central Statistics Office. As a result, it is particularly common in the provinces of Leinster and Ulster, as well as the cities of Cork and Limerick. The last name is also widely dispersed throughout the island nation.
In the United States, the last name Carnaghan is most frequently used in the mid-Atlantic region, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It is also common in Michigan, between Detroit and Grand Rapids, as many Irish immigrants arrived in the area during the Great Famine of the 1840s.
In general, the last name is more likely to be found in large populations of people of Irish descent, either due to immigration or because larger populations of Irish Americans tend to maintain the name more than is the case elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Carnaghan
The Carnaghan surname has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most commonly encountered variants of the Carnaghan surname are Carnahan, Carnaham, Kurnaghan and Kernaghan.
Carnahan is the most widely used variant spelling of the Carnaghan surname and it refers to someone of Irish origin. This variant is thought to originate from the Irish-Gaelic surname O'Cearnachain meaning ‘descendant of Cearnachain’. Cearnachain was a personal name thought to be derived from cearnach meaning ‘victor’, ‘victorious’, ‘victory’ or ‘triumph’.
Carnaham is another variant of the Carnaghan surname and it can also refer to someone of Irish origin. This variant is thought to originate from the Irish-Gaelic surname O'Cearnacham meaning ‘descendant of Cearnacham’. Cearnacham was a personal name thought to be derived from cearnach meaning ‘victor’, ‘victorious’, ‘victory’ or ‘triumph’.
Kurnaghan is a variant of Carnaghan that originates from the North of Ireland. This variant is thought to originate from the Irish-Gaelic surname O'Cuarnachain meaning ‘descendant of Cuarnachain’. Cuarnachain was a personal name thought to be derived from cuar meaning ‘sixty’.
Kernaghan is another variant of Carnaghan that is widely used in the North of Ireland. This variant is thought to originate from the Irish-Gaelic surname O'Ceirnachain meaning ‘descendant of Ceirnachain’. Ceirnachain was a personal name thought to be derived from ceir meaning ‘red’.
Overall, the Carnaghan surname has numerous variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Carnahan, Carnaham, Kurnaghan, and Kernaghan which are believed to refer to someone of Irish origin.
Famous people with the name Carnaghan
- Jackie Carnaghan: Former American football offensive lineman
- Jim Carnaghan: Scottish professional football goalkeeper
- Ryan Carnaghan: Professional trampoline gymnast
- Devyn Carnaghan: Professional bodybuilder and fitness trainer
- Keith Carnaghan: Former professional Canadian football defensive back
- Bill Carnaghan: American newspaper editor and columnist
- Mark Carnaghan: Theater writer, director, producer and master builder
- Bob Carnaghan: American professional basketball player
- Barry Carnaghan: English professional rugby league footballer
- Anne Carnaghan: Scottish filmmaker and documentary producer