Surname Flanigane - Meaning and Origin

Flanigane: What does the surname Flanigane mean?

The last name Flanigane is one of the most enduring Irish surnames found throughout the world. Its roots can be traced back to the Gaelic language and the eleventh century in southwestern Ireland. The term “Ó Flannagáin” translates as “descendant of Flannagain”, referring to Flannagain, an Irish chieftain who lived during the 10th and 11th centuries in what is today County Cork.

Through the years, the surname Flannigan has evolved and can now be spelled a variety of ways, including Flannigan, Flanigan, Flanigane, Flannigane, O'Flannigane, and O'Flanigane. This demonstrates the changing nature of language and its pronunciations over time.

Flannigan is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the father's given name. The Gaelic version of the surname was “Ó Flannagáin”, with “Ó” being an Irish prefix indicating descendant. In Scotland, the surname gained popularity as "Mac Flannagar" when a branch of the family migrated north. Variants of the name can also sometimes be found spelled as Flannigan, Flannigan, Flannigane, Flannigane, O'Flannigane, and O'Flanigane.

The modern meaning of the last name Flanigane, then, allows us to trace its roots back to Ireland and its Gaelic language, and a chieftain named Flannagain who lived in what is now County Cork. Its interchangeable spelling variants indicate its evolution over the centuries, and its status as a patronymic name points to its origin as coming from the given name of an ancestor.

Flanigane: Where does the name Flanigane come from?

The last name Flanigane appears to be most common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Ireland in particular, the name is widespread, especially in Cork county and its surrounding area. In 2018, research pointed to the Cork County towns of Bandon, Clonakilty and Kinsale having particularly significant concentrations of people with the name, and it is believed that many who bear the name today are descended from the same family line.

In addition to Cork, the last name Flanigane appears to be common in other parts of Ireland, such as Galway and Wexford, as well as counties such as Armagh, Fermanagh and Donegal. It is also found across many counties in the UK, in particular in South Wales and England's south east.

Outside of the UK and Ireland, the Flanigane name appears to be much rarer. It has been suggested that some families with the name begun to emigrate in the 19th century, notably to the United States and Canada, and today the name can also be found in traces in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Given the nature of recorded immigration, it is likely that further research would reveal more families around the world with the Flanigane surname.

Variations of the surname Flanigane

The surname Flanigane has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Most commonly, the surname is spelled Flanigane, but it can also be spelled Flanigan, Flanaghan, Flannigan, Flanagan, Flannagan, and Flannigane. The predominant spelling in Ireland is Flanigane, but in the United States, the spellings Flanigan and Flanaghan are more common.

Flanigan and Flanigane are both derived from the Gaelic word 'flann' meaning 'reddish' or 'ruddy.' Confusingly, Flanigan and Flanahan can both appear to be derivatives of Irish surnames meaning 'descendants of the ruddy-colored one' or 'red one.' However, both spellings have the same origin and are typically interchangeable.

Flanagan is a much more common spelling of the surname in Scotland than in other countries. It is a variation of the Gaelic word 'fhlannagain' which roughly translates to “son of the red-haired one". In some cases, the surname Flanagan derives not from the 'flann'” but from the Irish first name Flann.

Those with the surname Flannigan are most likely descended from immigrants from Northern Ireland. Flannigan was derived from the Irish Gaelic O'Flannagain sense, “grandson of the ruddy one. finally, Flannigane is a spelling of the surname that has become more popular in recent times.

Overall, despite the different spellings and origins of the surname Flanigane, all the variants point to the same original Gaelic meaning - 'red haired one' or 'descendant of the ruddy-colored one' or 'red one.'

Famous people with the name Flanigane

• Richard Flanigane, British actor known for his roles in Trainspotting (1996) and Braveheart (1995).
• Bill Flanigane, retired professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves between 1940 and 1951.
• Ann-Marie Flanigane, Canadian actress best known for her roles in the horror films Just Before Dawn (1981) and Blood Moon Rising (1989).
• Lisa Flanigane, Canadian Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.
• Robert Flanigane, American film director best known for his films Making Love (1982) and Jack (1996).
• Michael Flanigane, Australian rugby union player who represented Australia in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
• Patrick Flanigane, Irish politician and political analyst who held several government positions.
• Christopher Flanigane, British poet and author of the historical novel, Crusaders (2004).
• Paul Flanigane, American filmmaker and Emmy Award winner for his documentary The Humanity of War (2007).
• Tessa Flanigane, British actress who starred in BBC's EastEnders from 2004 to 2006.

Other surnames

Flanigan