Surname Lonergan - Meaning and Origin

Lonergan: What does the surname Lonergan mean?

The last name Lonergan is an Irish surname of Norman origin. The name is derived from "O Luain again," which is composed of two Gaelic elements: "luan," meaning "little one" and "again," meaning "rock." The literal translation of the name is "little rock."

The Lonergan family originated from County Wexford, Ireland in the 12th century. The first members of the family were Norman soldiers, granted the rights to the lands of Wexford as reward for their service in King Henry II of England's army. The Lonergan’s were established as a powerful and influential family in the area.

The Lonergan surname is now found throughout the British Isles and the United States, primarily in the east coast states. Lonergan’s have held a variety of professions, from builders and laborers to artisans and lawyers.

Beyond being the exclusive hallmark of an Irish clan, the name ‘Lonergan’ has come to indicate a certain spirit, as captured in the words of one Irish poet: "The Lonergan, he was tall and free of wit and caustic jest. He loved his God, his county and his wild Atlantic coast."

Lonergan: Where does the name Lonergan come from?

The last name Lonergan is most common today in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Massachusetts and New York.

The surname likely originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Longargáin, meaning "descendant of Longargán". The origin of the name is uncertain, but it is possibly derived from an old Irish word meaning "lonely".

In regards to population, Lonergan ranks as the 571th most common surname in the United States, with the most populous city of Lonergan's being Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. In Canada, the surname is the 606th most popular surname and ranks highest in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The surname Lonergan is associated with a number of prominent figures throughout history, including writers, actors, and politicians. The most well-known bearer of the name was American journalist and television news anchor Peter Lonergan.

The surname continues to be strongly associated with Irish culture and can be found around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Lonergan

The surname Lonergan originated from the earlier Irish surname ‘O Lonagáin’, which is derived from the Irish first name ‘Lonagán’. The pronunciation of this name is also sometimes altered. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Lonergan are:

Variants: Lonergam, Lonerghan, Lonergon, Lonergane, Lunergan.

Spellings: Lonargan, Lonargin, Lonargin, Lonarkan, Lonarcan, Lonaron, Lonarghan, Lonarkin, Lonarkin, Loenrgan, Loenrgato, Loenrgun, Lonergane, Lonnergan, Lunergan, O'Lonergan.

Surnames of the same origin: Lonergane, Lunergin, Lunergan, Macklonergan, MacLunargin, Oneillonergan, O'Lenergan, O'Lunergan, O'Neilonergan.

Lonergan is the Anglicization of the Gaelic name O Lonércan, giving the modern spelling Langeen, having been adapted to the Normen language. It is derived from the Irish Lonagán, the pet form of the original Gaelic clan name O Lonagán, which is composed of two components. The first component is lon, which means ‘blackbird’. The second component is ‘og’, which means ‘young’. The overall meaning of the name is ‘young blackbird’.

It is believed that the Lonergan surname first appeared in Ireland sometime around the mid-13th century. Families with this surname have been historically found in counties Cork in both Munster and Leinster. The Lonergan family has since spread throughout the world, assuming variations in spelling along the way.

Famous people with the name Lonergan

• Margaret Lonergan, professional cheerleader and Instagram influencer
• Martin Lonergan, Irish professional basketball player
• Arthur Lonergan, former chairman of the Australian Football League
• Gerald Lonergan, former Australian cricketer
• James Lonergan, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Historical Fiction
• Talia Lonergan, Oscar-nominated actress
• Reggie Lonergan, Irish professional footballer
• Mike Lonergan, American college basketball head coach
• Paul Lonergan, former Irish Olympic swimmer
• Patrick Lonergan, Irish academic and theatre director

Other surnames

Lonergane