Surname Nolan - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Nolan

Nolan: What does the surname Nolan mean?

The surname Nolan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Nualláin," which means a descendant of Nuallán. The name Nuallán itself consists of two components: "nuall" means "noble, famous" and the diminutive suffix "án". So, some interpretations suggest Nolan means "descendant of the famous or noble one". This name typically designates someone who is a leader or one who is full of wisdom. The name became popular in Ireland and got Anglicized as Nolan after the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. There are numerous variations of the spelling of this surname such as Nolen, Nolin, and Nowlan. Today, it's a common surname in many English-speaking countries.

Nolan: Where does the name Nolan come from?

The last name Nolan is a popular and ancient Irish surname found all across the world. It is most common in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to a recent survey, the last name Nolan ranks 452nd nationally in Ireland, 159th in England and Wales, 664th in Scotland and 963rd in the United States.

In the United States, people with the last name Nolan can be found in all fifty states. In particular, they are more concentrated in the central region of the country, the New England region, the Midwest and the Mountain states in particular. The states with the largest populations of Nolans include New York, Florida, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Outside the United States, the Nolan family has a strong presence in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Argentina. People with the last name Nolan are also found in various other parts of the world with large concentrations in countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Overall, the last name Nolan is well-represented in many parts of the world, showing the wide-reaching influence of Irish culture around the globe.

Variations of the surname Nolan

Nolan is an Irish surname and is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Nualláin. It is often found without Ó (O) and is usually spelled Nolan. However, there are various spelling variants of this surname including Nowlan, Nowland, Nolen, Knowlan, Nowlen, Knowland, Noland, Knowles, Knoll, Knowles, Nowles, Noell, Noelle, Noe, Nole, and Nohle.

It is also possible to trace the surname back to Monaghan county in Ireland. This version of the surname is spelled as such: Nuelan, Nulean, Nuelon, Nulon, Noolin, Noolan, Noolen, Nuilan, Nielan, Nielon, Niellen, Nilen, Nylon, and Neylon.

Other variants of the surname exist outside of the Irish usage, such as the German variant Nolle and the French variant de Nohlan. These variants are derived from the words ‘knot’ or ‘knoll’, which in turn refer to small round hill.

Nolan is also occasionally used as a given name, and there are several variants of this as well, such as Nolin, Nowlin, Nowlan, Nowland, and Noland.

In Scotland, the Gaelic version of the surname is spelled as Noulan, and can also be found as Noolan, Noulen, Nulan, Nulen, Nolane, and Nolans.

Overall, Nolan is a very common Irish surname and is present in many variations throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Nolan

• Christopher Nolan: Director, writer, and producer known for his award-winning movie Inception, as well as acclaimed works including The Dark Knight Trilogy and Dunkirk.
• Bob Nolan: Country singer and songwriter, best known as part of the western music trio The Sons of the Pioneers
• John Nolan: American singer and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist for the influential punk band Taking Back Sunday
• Christine Nolan: American wrestling champion and television Personality, most notably appearing on the show Tough Enough
• Aaron Nolan: American football player currently signed to the Indianapolis Colts
• Dennis Nolan: singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the funk band The Commodores
• Kevin Nolan: English footballer who had notable spells at Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers
• Cynthia Nolan: actress, best known for her roles in the films The Sandlot and The Goonies
• Martin Nolan: American artist, best known for his large scale outdoor sculptures
• Patrick Nolan: American actor and philanthropist, best known for his stage roles in productions such as Les Misérables and South Pacific.

Other surnames

Noland