Surname Feehan - Meaning and Origin

Feehan: What does the surname Feehan mean?

The last name Feehan is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fíodhna, which is from the Gaelic word "fiodhnach" meaning "woodlander" or "ranger". It is derived from a personal name "fiodhna" which means "tender", "gentlemanly" or "warrior". This name originally referred to an ancestor of the clan who was a wooded area dweller or a forest ranger. Feehan's are believed to have descended from the "thirteen tribes" of Hy Many, a region located in Ireland's East Midlands.

It is thought that the families who adopted the name Feehan originally settled in a region near Tuam, County Galway. It was during the 16th century that the Feehan's began migrating west and eventually spread into counties Mayo and Clare. As the Irish migrated to other countries, the last name Feehan spread into the United States, Australia, Canada and other countries.

Today, there are many people with the surname Feehan and it can be found in countries all around the world. Despite its dispersal, the Feehan's still remain incredibly connected, and many participate in family reunions and gatherings. In addition, the Feehan name is still found extensively in the east Midlands of Ireland, where the clan initially settled and continues to be a prominent part of the region's history.

Feehan: Where does the name Feehan come from?

The last name Feehan is most commonly found in Ireland today. In the most recent census of the Republic of Ireland, there were 4,591 people holding the surname Feehan. This makes it the 255th most common surname in the country, and it is found across all 32 counties of the Republic. According to forebears.io, the top three reported regions with the highest number of people bearing the last name Feehan are County Mayo (2.6%), County Cork (2%) and County Limerick (1.3%).

The origin of the name is debatable and several theories exist. It is thought to derive from the Irish Ó Fideáin or Fíodhbhuí (also known as Eochaidhín), which suggest roots in either the Mag Fiodhbhuidhe clan of Connaght or the O'Fidhin family of Munster. Both names are Anglicised to Feehan. Similarly, it is thought the name could have also originated from smooth or smooth-haired people, an indication of the person coming from a high-ranking family.

Outside of Ireland, the name is less frequently seen due to migration from the country over the centuries. However, small pockets of people bearing the name can be found in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada. Today the total population of people with the surname Feehan is estimated to be around 10,000 people.

Variations of the surname Feehan

The surname Feehan is an Irish surname with several variants and spellings. Some of the alternate versions are Feyhan, Feehan, Eaheen, and aYeheen. The Irish spelling of Feehan is Ó hIfeáin which translates to 'descendant of Ifán'. The name Ifán is thought to mean 'wolf'. All of these variations can be found in Irish records dating back to the 16th century.

The Feehan surname can also be spelled 'Fayhan'. This variant is most commonly seen in County Cork and County Waterford, where it has been recorded since the 16th century. In County Kerry, the surname Feehan can be found spelled as 'Pheenan'. This spelling is also often encountered in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Other spellings of Feehan found in Ireland include Fihan,Fionn, Fion, Fenan, Fian, Fienan, Finen, and Fiann.

Variations on the Feehan surname are popular outside of Ireland as well. In Scotland, the name is often encountered as Feehane, Feein, Fien, and Finnan. In the United States, the name Feehan is usually seen spelled as Feeney, Finey, and Phinney.

Generally, a change in spelling is indicative of a change in location. People who migrated to new areas often changed their surname spelling to better match the new locations. For example, the Feehan family had a presence in Limerick from the late 18th century and some of them adopted the 'Feenan' spelling.

The Feehan surname also appears with a variety of other surnames derived from the same roots, such as Fehilly, Feyer, Fingan, and Phinnell. All of these surnames have their origin in the original Gaelic surname, Ó hIfeáin.

Famous people with the name Feehan

• Christina Feehan: a best-selling American author who is best known for her Carpathian novels series.
• Brian Feehan: an American actor and model who is known for his roles in films such as Step Up Revolution (2012) and Lone Survivor (2013).
• David Feehan: a former military officer and politician, who served as the chief executive of the Professional Services Council.
• Jack Feehan: an American sports announcer and voice-over artist, currently working for ESPN.
• Sandra Feehan: a Canadian writer and illustrator, best known for the series Purple Penelope which has won awards from both the Canadian Library Association and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
• Tom Feehan: a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball between 1945 and 1955.
• Chris Feehan: an American musician and producer, known for his work with artists such as Aerosmith, Rush, and the Eurythmics.
• Brendan Feehan: an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Dublin GAA senior team.
• Maureen Feehan: an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, who is one half of the folk group Brigid and Mac Uileagóid.
• Corin Feehan: a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in the Canadian films Goon (2011) and Age of Summer (2018).

Other surnames

Feeharry