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Archiver > IRISH-AMERICAN > 2005-06 > 1118007738


From: WILLIAM DORGAN <>
Subject: DORGAN/DARGAN
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2005 17:42:18 -0400
References: <200506052003.j55K3BON009276@lists5.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200506052003.j55K3BON009276@lists5.rootsweb.com>


Here's one for Jerry Kelly and others interested in name derivation
and genealogy:

I have been researching my DORGAN family for some time now, and now I
am concentrating on the derivation of the name and its history.
Haven't been able to find much except the following. Hope Jerry or
someone skilled in this area can help me out. Thanks in advance.
Bill Dorgan

email:
website: www.billdorgan.com



Dorgan
reduced Anglicized form of the rare Munster name Ó Dorcháin
‘descendant of Dorchán’, a byname representing a diminutive of Gaelic
dorcha ‘black’, ‘gloomy’.
variant of Dargan.
Dargan
Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Deargáin ‘descendant of
Deargán’, a byname from a diminutive of dearg ‘red’.




DARGAN DURGIN, DURGEN, DARGON, DARGIN, DERGEN, DORGIN, DORGAN.,
DARGEN, DARRIGAN, DORRIGAN, DERAGIN, DARGIN



It is well known the Dargan surname is derived from the Irish surname
O/Dearga/in The Irish name literally means the "the grandson of the
little red man".

Another source notes (O/Dearga/in) is in fact one of the ancient
Irish families. Many "Irish" surnames are in fact Norman or
Scandinavian in origin as a result of various waves of invasions of
Ireland. However, The O/Dearga/in were a minor sept (ancient Irish
families didn't have "clans" like the Scots, but "septs" where
different families could actually have the same surname for
completely different reasons). They did not wield the power that the
famous large families did, and so figure little in the Annals.
However, I believe they are mentioned in the Ta/in (ancient Irish
text) and so their existence in pre-English and Norman Ireland is
recognised and well acknowledged.


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