Gahan (and its variant Gahame) is a surname with several different origins. One origin of the surname is from a reduced form of '' McGahan'', which is in turn an Anglicised form of the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

'' Mac Eacháin'', meaning "son of ''Eachán''". Another origin of the name, in

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...

, is from a reduced form of the Irish language ''Ó Gaoithin'', meaning "descendant of ''Gaoithín''". The personal name ''Gaoithín'' is a diminutive of ''gaoth'', meaning "wise", or "wind". In

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...

, ''Ó Gaoithin'' is sometimes Anglicised as ''

Wynne Wynne is a surname of Welsh origin. This is a list of notable people with the surname, sorted by profession: Art, literature, and music * Bill Wynne (1922–2021), American photographer and writer * David Wynne (composer) (1900–83), Wels ...

'' or '' Wyndham''. Occasionally, the surname ''Gahan'' may be an Anglicised form of the Irish language ''Mac Gaoithín'', meaning "son of ''Gaoithín''", although the more common Anglicised form of this Gaelic name is '' McGeehan'' in

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

. which cited for the surname "Gahan". People with this surname include: *

Arthur Burton Gahan Arthur Burton Gahan (9 December 1880 — 23 May 1960) was an American entomologist who was a specialist on parasitic Hymenoptera particularly the Chalcidoidea. Gahan was born in Kansas and went to Kansas State College where he graduated in 1903. ...

(1880–1960), American entomologist * Charles Joseph Gahan (1862–1939), Irish entomologist *

Dave Gahan Dave may refer to: Film, television, and theater * ''Dave'' (film), a 1993 film starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver * ''Dave'' (musical), a 2018 stage musical adaptation of the film * Dave (TV channel), a digital television channel in the ...

(born 1962) (not his birth name), British singer *

George Thomas Gahan Cr. George Tomas Gahan JP (21 July 191224 June 1980) was an Australian politician and Victorian amateur boxer. He was born in Inglewood, Victoria to Benjamin Edward Gahan and Emma Gahan ''née Walker''. The Gahan family later moved to the M ...

(1912–1980), Australian politician and boxer * Gordon Gahan (1945–1984), American photographer * Graeme Gahan (1942–2018), Australian rules footballer *

John Harvey Gahan John Harvey "Oscar" Gahan (born John Harvey Gerald Gahan; August 20, 1888 – March 24, 1958) was a Canadian child prodigy violinist and actor. Gahan played a performance for the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) at age 5. As a virtuoso vio ...

(1888–1958), Canadian violinist *

Matthew Gahan Matthew Gahan (born 26 November 1975) in Lismore, New South Wales is an Australian baseball player who is currently a free agent and plays for the Australian national team. Career Matty was signed in 2000 by the New York Mets organisation and ...

(born 1975), Australian baseball player *

Thomas Gahan Thomas Gahan (April 7, 1847 – April 30, 1905) was an American politician and business executive in Chicago. Biography For over 25 years, Gahan was a leader of the Cook County Democratic Party and for eight years represented Illinois on ...

(1847–1905), American politician * Tracy Gahan (born 1980), Australian basketball player * William Gahan (1732–1804), Irish priest and at least one having it as a given name: *

Gahan Wilson Gahan Allen Wilson (February 18, 1930 – November 21, 2019) was an American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations. Biography Wilson was born in Evanston, Illinois, and was inspired by th ...

(1930–2019), American horror–fantasy cartoonist and illustrator

References

{{given name, type=both Anglicised Irish-language surnames