Surname Reaugh - Meaning and Origin
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Reaugh: What does the surname Reaugh mean?
The last name Reaugh is of Irish origin. This surname is believed to have originated in County Wexford, in the south east of Ireland. It is believed to come from the Gaelic ‘O’Riaghdha’, which literally means ‘descendant of Riaghdha’. The name Riaghdha itself appears to refer to a personal name meaning ‘royal’ or ‘powerful’ in the ancient language of the Irish, known as Gaelic.
The earliest records of the name Reaugh date to the middle of the 16th century which is when the Anglicization of Irish names was becoming increasingly popular. The Reaugh name has also appeared spelled as Reagh, Riagh, Reah, Rea, Reaghy and Reho.
The Reaughs likely migrated from Ireland to other parts of Europe and are now found all across the world. Reaughs pride themselves on their Irish roots, often proudly displaying it in everything from the names of businesses to tattoos. The surname is also known to appear in literature and art, often to give a Celtic character a touch of authenticity.
Overall, the surname Reaugh is an Irish one full of a rich history and culture. Whether these families still live in Ireland or have migrated to other parts of the world, they still feel the strong connection to their roots.
Order DNA origin analysisReaugh: Where does the name Reaugh come from?
Today, the surname Reaugh is primarily found in the United States, though records indicate that its origin was in Scotland.
In the US, the last name Reaugh is most heavily concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Georgia, though it is present in many other states. It is also seen in small pockets in a few other countries, including Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
The surname appears to be a variation of the Scottish surname Reoch, which has roots in the name of an old medieval clan. The periodic inversions of the surname (Reaugh, Reoch, and Rauch) among Scots and their descendants over the centuries is possibly due to the harder pronunciation of the Scottish dialect.
It is possible that some of the Reaughs in the US descend from Scottish emigrants. Indeed, research of US census data from 1800 onwards reveals that Reaughs were present in the newly-established United States from at least this period.
For those doing family history research, Reaughs are found in genealogical records both in the US and in Scotland, and migration to the US during and after World War I likely accounts for the large majority of Reaughs in America.
Variations of the surname Reaugh
The surname Reaugh is of Irish origin, and is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Ó Riagáin, meaning “descendant of Riagán”. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
1. Regan – derived from the Irish given name Ríoghán, it is the traditional anglicised version of Ó Riagáin.
2. Reigon – an abbreviated form of Regan.
3. Reagen – another variation of Regan.
4. O’Regan – a common spelling of the surname.
5. Reagan – often a spelling used for the surname, derived from the Irish given name Ríoghán.
6. O’Riagain – derived from the Gaelic name Ó Riagáin.
7. O’Reaghan – another spelling of Ó Riagáin.
8. Reagan – derived from the Irish given name Ríoghán.
9. O’Reaghain – another spelling of Ó Riagáin.
10. Reighan – derived from the Irish given name Ríoghán.
11. O'Riagáin – the original Gaelic form of the surname, this is also often seen in the anglicised Irish version, O’Riagain.
12. Reighin – an alternate spelling of Reighan.
13. Reaghin – another spelling of Reighan.
14. Reighon – a variation of Reighan.
15. Riagáin – the original Irish family name, from the element ‘Rí’ meaning ‘king’.
These variations of Reaugh are found mostly in Ireland, but also in some areas of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Famous people with the name Reaugh
- Joe Reaugh: Joe Reaugh is a professional pitcher who has played in the major leagues for the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers. He is most famous for creating an award-winning statistical analysis system that’s revolutionized baseball scouting. His achievements in baseball have also earned him a spot in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
- Steve Reaugh: Steve Reaugh is an independent animation director, producer, and writer who has designed films for DreamWorks, Universal, and Pixar. He is most famous for writing, directing, and producing the Oscar-nominated animated short story “Mr. Pigeon.”
- Paul Reaugh: Paul Reaugh is best known as an American artist who focuses on abstract and contemporary landscapes. His artworks can be found in galleries from New York to LA. He is also recognized for his monotypes, which are prints made from a single plate or matrix.
- James Reaugh: James Reaugh is an American character actor. He is most famous for his work in the TV series “Sex and the City” where he played the role of Trey MacDougal’s attorney. He also played several characters on multiple other TV shows and films.
- Harry Reaugh: Harry Reaugh is an Australian actor who is most famous for his roles in the shows “Sons and Daughters” and “Neighbours.” He has also appeared in various films, as well as made guest appearances on several TV shows.
- John Reaugh: John Reaugh is an American songwriter and record producer who has collaborated on tracks with several popular artists, including Lady Gaga, John Legend, and Usher. He is most well-known for producing Rihanna’s award-winning single “Umbrella”.