Surname Coonan - Meaning and Origin

Coonan: What does the surname Coonan mean?

The surname Coonan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Cuana" which means a descendant of Cuana. The name Cuana itself is believed to be composed of elements meaning "hound or wolf" and "cub" in a symbolic sense for a young, brave warrior. The Coonans were an ancient clan originally located in County Tyrone before they migrated to other parts of Ireland, especially Limerick and Clare. Variations of the surname include O'Coonan, Coonane, and Coonen. It is believed that the name may have been Anglicized to Conan in some instances. Like many Irish surnames, Coonan carries rich histories of family tradition, migration, and adaptation, making it a distinctive emblem of Irish heritage.

Coonan: Where does the name Coonan come from?

The surname Coonan originates from Ireland. It is believed to stem from the Gaelic name 'O'Cuanain,' with 'O' indicating male descendant of, and 'Cuanain' being a personal name. The name is found in early written records in the form of O'Coonan and O'Conan, primarily in the region of Connacht, specifically in County Roscommon. Notably, in the Irish language, the name 'Cuanain' is believed to mean 'little hound' or 'little wolf', possibly indicating an ancestor known for wolf-like qualities.

Today, Coonan is relatively rare. However, it can still be found in Ireland, especially in areas with strong Irish heritage. Also, due to the historical emigration patterns of the Irish, the name is found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In these countries, it is more likely to be found in major cities, such as New York, Boston, Toronto, Melbourne, and London, where large numbers of Irish settled.

Variations of the surname Coonan

The surname Coonan originated from Ireland and is variation of the name Conan which means "little wolf" in Gaelic. This surname has various spellings including Conan, Connan, O'Conan, O'Connan, Coonin, Connon, and Conon. These variants have been used interchangeably over time, however Coonan is the most common.

In some cases, mismatched letters are a common source of mistakes during the transcription of census data. So the following surname spelling deviations were found in census records: Conon, Coanan, Corner, Connin, Goonan, Conden, Cooman, Conlan. Moreover, sometimes the surname Coonan can be represented as Koonan, Kunan or Coonane.

Usually, different surnames sharing the same spelling are not related and mainly occur in different regions. Therefore, surname variants or different spellings can possibly belong to the same family, having the same lineage or origin, but this isn’t always the case.

Apart from these, some related surnames that can be considered as having the same origin include O'Conan, MacConnan, or even Conway since the Irish surname "Mac Connmhaigh" can be Anglicized to both Conway and Connan.

Famous people with the name Coonan

• Judy Moran-Coonan: An infamous Australian figure known for her involvement in the Melbourne underworld scene.
• Matt Coonan: An American composer, known for contributions to instrumental and vocal chamber music.
• Len Coonan: An Australian rugby player with a distinguished career in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Keith Coonan: An American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band "Bank of Brian".
• Peter Coonan: An Irish actor famous for his role in the crime drama series, "Love/Hate".
• Stacey Coonan: An American radio presenter and voice-over actor.
• Jackie Coonan: Renowned Irish hurler who played for Tipperary Senior team.
• Kevin Coonan: An American attorney and politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
• Pat Coonan: A former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
• David Coonan: An Irish composer known for his chamber music and co-founding the Association of Irish Composers. Please note that the level of fame varies with these individuals, some being locally or nationally recognized and others having more global recognition.

Other surnames

Coonahan