Duggan
An Irish surname from a Gaelic personal name meaning “black” or “dark one.”
The #2,928 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 25,230 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Duggan is generally taken from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Dubhagáin, meaning “descendant of Dubhagán.” The personal name Dubhagán comes from dubh, “black” or “dark,” with a diminutive ending, so the sense is something like “little dark one.” Older writers also connect it with related forms such as Ó Dughán or Dubhan, but the core idea is the same: a Gaelic name built on dubh.
History
Historical sources place the name in Ireland and note its presence in Manx usage as well, especially in the parish of Malew. A 19th-century Manx source says it once was common there but later became much less frequent, while remaining common in Ireland. The surname also appears in Anglicized forms such as Dugan, Duggen, and Duggan.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One Manx etymological note says Ó Dubhagáin was the family name of a chief poet of the O'Kellys, author of a well-known topographical poem.
From the historical record
“Lonan (c), elsewhere (u). DuGGAN, contracted from O'Dubhagain (Dubha^^an's descendant '). Dubhagan is a derivative of Dnbh, ' black.' O'DuBHAGAiN was the chief poet of O'Kelly of Ibh Maine, and was the author of the topographical poem called after him. He died in 1372-”
— The Surnames & Place-Names of the Isle of Man