Madigan
An Irish surname, most likely from a Gaelic name meaning “little devotee” or a related patronymic form.
The #6,025 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 54,099 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Madigan is generally treated as an Anglicized Irish surname. It is usually connected with Gaelic forms built on a personal name or byname derived from a word for a devotee or follower, with a diminutive element in the background of the modern form. The older spellings recorded in Irish sources point to a native Gaelic family name rather than an English occupational or place-name origin.
History
The surname is associated especially with Ireland, and nineteenth-century sources place it chiefly in counties such as Limerick and Clare. Like many Irish surnames, it was standardized into a more English-looking spelling in the later record. In the modern era it is found in Ireland, Britain, North America, and other diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is uncommon in the US but still clearly identifiable as Irish, which makes it a good example of a compact, heavily Anglicized Gaelic name.
From the historical record
“6 iriAccitie, Wolfe. 6 triA-oASAin, Madigan, Maddi- gan. O niA-oAiT), Maddy. O niA-OAi-ohi, O inA-OAin,p'Mad-”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames