Rogan
An Irish surname most often explained as meaning “red-haired” or “ruddy,” from Gaelic roots for red.
The #7,345 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 68,051 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally derived from an Irish Gaelic name built on ruadh, meaning “red,” with a diminutive ending, so the sense is roughly “little red one” or “reddish.” Nineteenth-century sources connect it with forms such as Ó Ruadhagáin and explain it as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Some older writers also noted interchange with the similar surname Rohan.
History
Rogan is established in Irish records and was noted by surname scholars as belonging especially to parts of Ulster, including Antrim, Down, and Leitrim. Like many Irish surnames, it appears in several anglicized spellings, and in some cases has overlapped with related forms such as Rohan and Roughan. The name is found in both Ireland and the diaspora, especially in English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root word behind Rogan, ruadh, shows up in many Irish surnames that point to red hair or a ruddy appearance.
From the historical record
“surname. ROGAN (Celt.) Of Red Complexion or Hair [Ir. Ruadhacdn (a.d. 8go, etc.) — ruadh (dh mute), red + the (double) dim. suff. -cdn {6c-dn\ later -gdn\ There has been interchange with Rohan, q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)