Surname Bagenal - Meaning and Origin
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Bagenal: What does the surname Bagenal mean?
The last name Bagenal is an anglicized form of the Old French name Beaugein, which was derived from the Germanic personal name Bagin or Bagoin. The personal name was composed of the elements bag or bago, meaning ‘God’, and win, meaning ‘friend’.
The surname Bagenal is thought to have first been borne by a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066 and settled in County Waterford, Ireland. It is recorded that Baldrick de Beaugein was listed in the 1185 Pipe Rolls of the County.
The name has been found in Ireland since the 12th century, though originally found along the Welsh-English border. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the family spread to many parts of Ireland, with a branch of the family taking over the Castle of Mourne near Ballina in County Mayo in 1595. In later years, the name would become anglicized variously as Bagany, Boginy and, eventually, Bagenal.
The name is still mostly found in the Republic of Ireland, where it is most common in County Mayo. It is also to be found in other parts of the country, as well as in England, Scotland, and the United States of America.
Notable family members include Thomas Bagenal, a renowned Protestant soldier during the rebellion of 1594, and Upton Bagenal, an Irish civil engineer and architect who worked on the Ulster Canal and Belfast docks.
Order DNA origin analysisBagenal: Where does the name Bagenal come from?
The last name Bagenal is chiefly associated with Ireland today. It is most commonly found in County Laois (formerly known as Queen’s County) and has been associated with the vicinity for centuries. There are many Bagenal families in the town of Portlaoise, as well as other towns in the county.
The name Bagenal is thought to come from 'Bagenal's Castle', an old stronghold in the nearby village of Ballyadams. There are records of it being used as an ancient fortress since the 12th century, and it is believed that the Bagenal family were its original custodians. The castle is still standing today, although it is in a ruinous state.
The Bagenal surname can also be found in other parts of Ireland, especially in Dublin and nearby counties. It is not uncommon to find Bagenal families in the United States, where there have been significant migrations from Ireland. The name is also common in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries with significant Irish diasporic populations.
Importantly, the Bagenal family is still remembered in Ireland as a prominent clan that traces its lineage to an ancient lord. This is evidenced by the annual 'Bagenal Gathering' in Laois, a celebration of the family's culture and history.
Variations of the surname Bagenal
The surname Bagenal has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Bagnall, Bagnell, Bagnol, Bagnul, Bagnulle, and Bagnill.
Bagenal is believed to be derived from an Anglo-Norman French family first recorded in Leicestershire in the 12th century. However, some evidence suggests the surname may have earlier origins in Brittany. The name is thought to be derived from the personal name Bagnald, which comes from the Old French terms ‘bagne’ and ‘baugne,’ which meant ‘hawthorn bush’ or ‘thicket’ respectively.
In the 12th century, the Anglo-Norman French family adopted the surname Bagenal, and this family moved to Ireland in the late 1600s, during the Anglo-Norman invasion. It is likely that many of the Gaelic Irish adopted the surname Bagenal in the aftermath of the Invasion. At this time, the surname was anglicised to spellings such as Bagnel, Bagnell, and Bagnol.
The surname Bagnel became particularly popular in Ireland, in particular, due to a strong sept, or clan, in County Leix (also known as County Laois). Today, Bagenal is recognised as an Irish surname and is most associated with County Laois. There are many variants, spellings, surnames of the same origin of Bagenal, and it is common in both England and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Bagenal
- Paul Bagenal: an Irish football (soccer) player and manager, known for his time at Shamrock Rovers from 1959-1965 as both a player and manager. He is best remembered for leading Rovers to the FAI Cup in 1961.
- Matthew Bagenal: a British space plasma physicist, best known for his research on space environment physics and space weather. He is currently a professor at the University of Leicester.
- Chris Bagenal: an American astrophysicist, specializing in the study of solar system objectives like comets, asteroids, and planets. He is currently a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.
- Loretta Bagenal: an Irish snowboarder, best known for her competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
- Sir William Bagenal: an English military commander best known for his service during the Irish Confederate Wars in the 1640s. He was knighted after the wars in 1646.
- Andrew Bagenal: an English 19th century clergyman who served as a bishop in the Church of England from 1853-1866.