Surname Maughan - Meaning and Origin
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Maughan: What does the surname Maughan mean?
The last name Maughan is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Mathghamhna, or “Son of the Bear.” The name is associated with many different branches of the same family, including the MacMahon’s of Ulster and the Maghan’s of County Kerry.
In the Irish Gaelic language, the name Maghan means “Warrior” or “Lion”. As one of the most ancient surnames in Ireland, Maughan’s were specifically affiliated with ancient clans outlining the prominent men of the region.
Maughan is also a variant of the related surname Mohan, which is of English, Welsh, and Irish origin. It is a common surname in the Southern part of Ireland, where the surname dates back to 1313 and some of the earliest records of the name.
The surname is found primarily in Ireland, but is also present in large numbers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In modern times, Maughan’s are found generally amongst the middle and working classes, and have had many successful members in a wide variety of fields, including athletes, politicians, and scientists.
Members of the Maughan family are often found to be strong-willed, independent, tenacious, and creative. They are known for having a good sense of humour and positive outlook on life. Historically, the Maughan name has stood for bravery, loyalty and honour, and still carries these values today.
Order DNA origin analysisMaughan: Where does the name Maughan come from?
The last name Maughan is most common in the United States and the United Kingdom today, but it is also present in other parts of the world including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
In the United States, the surname Maughan is especially prevalent in states with large populations such as California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania. According to the United States Census in 2018, there were over three thousand people with the last name Maughan living in this country.
In the United Kingdom, the majority of people with the last name Maughan are found throughout England, although smaller concentrations are present in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. According to the 2018 UK census, there was over 1,800 people with the surname Maughan living in England and Wales.
Elsewhere around the world, the surname’s presence is perhaps most concentrated in former British colonies in the Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In Canada, for instance, there were approximately two thousand Canadians with the last name Maughan living in the country in 2016.
These figures clearly demonstrate that the surname Maughan is a popular family name in many parts of the world, although its presence varies considerably from country to country.
Variations of the surname Maughan
Maughan is a surname usually associated with old Irish or Scottish decent in origin. The spelling can vary depending on ancestry, and there are several variants, such as Mohan, Muehlen, Mochen, Mowen, Mohon, and Mognan. It can also be spelled as Macan, McCann, Machen, Muckan, Mogan, and Maulin.
The traditional Irish spelling is "Mughan" or "Maghain," which is derived from the Gaelic "MagShamhráin," meaning "son of the bear." This spelling is seen rarely today, as the Gaelic spelling gradually gave way to more phonetic spellings.
In historical Ireland, the surname would have been found mostly in County Tyrone, along the border with Northern Ireland. The spelling could also be found in Scotland, particularly in the region of Ayrshire, where Macan was the most common spelling.
As the families of Maughan emigrated across the world, alternative spellings began to emerge, depending on the geography of their destination and the influence of the local language. This includes spellings such as Macon in France, Mogan in Canada, and Mahon in England.
In the United States, the most common spelling is Maughan, although Mogan, Muehlen, and Mohan are not uncommon. These may be used interchangeably by family members depending on individual preference.
Famous people with the name Maughan
- Ryan Maughan: American actor best known for his roles as Augustus in the Disney Channel film Descendants 2 and as Theo in Nickelodeon's Henry Danger.
- Ian Maughan: English former footballer who played for Northampton Town.
- Rodney Maughan: former British basketball player turned basketball coach from Bedfordshire.
- N. Eldon Maughan: former American politician who served as the twelfth lieutenant governor of Idaho.
- David Maughan: Australian music journalist and author.
- John Maughan: former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans and Melbourne Football Club during his professional career.
- Ken Maughan: British-East African adventurer and author, known for his book, “A Dream of Adventure”.
- Kenny Maughan: Irish rugby union player who plays for Glasgow Warriors.
- Nathan Maughan: British former professional cyclist, and winner of several amateur races.
- Jack Maughan: English professional golfer who rose to prominence in the early 1950s.
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Comments or additions to the name "Maughan"
07.03.2024
Iam john Maughan from jarrow tyneside. My grandad robert Maughan was one of the jarrow marchers 1936he played mouth organ on the march to london and appearred several times on tv ..telling his story