Regan
An Irish surname usually explained as meaning “little king,” from an older Gaelic personal name.
The #1,642 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,065 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Regan is generally treated as an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O’Regan, from the Gaelic personal name Riagán (also written in related forms). A common older explanation breaks this name down as rí, meaning “king,” plus a diminutive ending, giving the sense of “little king” or “kinglet.” Some 19th-century authorities also connect it with older Gaelic spellings recorded in various Anglicized forms.
History
The name is long established in Ireland and appears frequently in historical surname lists and county counts, especially in Munster. 19th-century writers grouped Regan with other O’ names and treated it as a familiar Irish family name rather than a recent import. In modern usage it is found both with and without the prefix O’.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Matheson’s 1894 Irish surname statistics list Regan among the better-attested Irish names, with especially strong representation in southern counties.
From the historical record
“REFFITT, a var. of Raffltt, q.v. REGAN (Celt.) Kinglet [Ir. Riagdn—rUa king + the double dim. suff. -g-dn] REGINALD (Teut.) the O.Teut. Reginwald, Raginwald (Mod. Ger. R^in{w)ald), Regen- w{e)ald, etc. = Mighty or Godlike Power fv. under Rainbird, and -|- O.Sax.^OaiaW = O.H.Ger. gtjwalt = O.E. ge)w(e)ald =■ O.N.…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)