Flanagan is a common surname of Irish origin and an Anglicised version of the Irish name Ó Flannagáin which is derived from the word "flann" meaning 'red' or 'ruddy'.

Origin

Flanagan is just one variation on the original surname which, according to the 19th century writer Reverend Patrick Woulfe, is:

"...the name of at least five distinct families in different parts of Ireland, viz.: # of
Fermanagh Historically, Fermanagh ( ga, Fir Manach), as opposed to the modern County Fermanagh, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Fermanagh. ''Fir Manach'' originally referred to a distinct kin group of al ...
, a branch of the Oirghialla, who were chiefs of Tuathratha, now anglicised Toorah, an extensive district in the barony of Magheraboy, in the northwest of Co. Fermanagh, and are still numerous in Ulster and the Co. Mayo; # of Roscommon, a branch of the Sil-Murry and of the same stock as the O'Connors, who were hereditary stewards to the kings of Connacht and chiefs of Clann Chathail, a district which embraced several parishes in the neighbourhood of Elphin; # of Westmeath who were anciently lords of Comair and sometimes of all Teffia; # of Ely O'Carroll in the present Offaly, who are of the same stock as the O'Carrolls, and were chiefs of Cinel Arga, a district nearly, if not exactly, co-extensive with the present barony of Ballybrit; and # of Waterford, who were formerly chiefs of Uachtartire, now the barony of Upperthird, in the north-west of Co. Waterford, but were dispossessed by the Powers soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion."

Other variations include Flanagin, Flanigan, Flannigan, Flannaghan, Flannagain, Flaniken, Flenigen and so on. The main reason for this variety is the 'Anglicisation' of many Irish place and fore/surnames as a consequence of the colonisation of Ireland (particularly from the 16th century onward) and the subsequent imposition of the English language. With some exceptions all of these variations may be prefixed with Ó (O') - signifying 'son of' or 'Nic' signifying 'daughter of'.

Prevalance

As many Irish migrated during the 19th and 20th centuries (especially in the period 1845–1851 to escape the 'Great Famine') the surname can be found in all major English-speaking countries of the world today. Flanagan is the 69th most common name surname in Ireland, 591st most common in Australia, 791st most common in England and the 1,102nd most common in the USA.

Other Information

Since the late 19th century the Flanagan name is alleged to have both a crest/coat of arms and 'Family motto' associated with it. According to O'Hart's "Irish Pedigrees", Burke's "General Armory," and Fairbairn's "Book of Crests" these include: Most commonly: ARMS/CREST: "A mount in base vert an oak tree proper a bordure of the second. A dexter cubit arm in armour proper garnished or and gules holding a flaming sword azure pommel and hilt or." (An oak tree in leaf growing from a small green mound on a gold coloured shield surrounded by a border of green. The crest is a right forearm clad in armour of natural colour garnished with gold and red. The hand holds a flaming sword with a blue blade and a handle, guard and pommel in gold. MOTTO: "Certavi et vici" ('I have fought and conquered') Alternatively (Burke): Flanagan (Drumdoe, co. Roscommon). ARMS/CREST: Ar. on a chev. gu. two lions ramp. or. Crest — A hand holding a dagger. MOTTO: "Audaces fortuna juvat" ('Fortune favours the bold')

People

* Alex Flanagan, sportscaster *

Anna Flanagan Anna Flanagan (born 8 January 1992) is an Australian field hockey player who plays as a defender for the Canberra Labor Club Strikers in the Australian Hockey League. She is nicknamed ''Flanno''. A full international with over 100 caps since 2 ...

, player Australian field hockey team * Anthony Flanagan, British actor * Barry Flanagan, a Welsh sculptor * Bernard Joseph Flanagan, an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church * Bob Flanagan, American writer and performance artist *

Bud Flanagan Bud Flanagan, (born Chaim Reuben Weintrop, 14 October 1896 – 20 October 1968) was a British music hall and vaudeville entertainer and comedian, and later a television and film actor. He was best known as a double act with Chesney Allen. Fla ...

, English entertainer *

Caitlin Flanagan Caitlin Flanagan (born November 14, 1961) is an American writer and social critic. A contributor to ''The Atlantic'' since February 2001, she was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2019. Her 2004 piece for ''The New Yorker'' was e ...

, writer *

Caroline Flanagan Caroline Flanagan served as President of the Law Society of Scotland from 2005 to 2006 and was the first woman to hold that post. She is also the youngest ever person to hold the post. Flanagan is a partner at the Dunfermline law firm Ross & Conn ...

, President of Law Society of Scotland *

Charles Flanagan Charlie Flanagan (born 1 November 1956) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency since 2020, and previously from 1987 to 2002, 2007 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2020 for the Laois const ...

, politician * Connor Flanagan, musician *

Crista Flanagan Crista Flanagan (born February 24, 1976) is an American actress and comedian, best known for her work as a cast member on the Fox sketch comedy series ''MADtv'' from 2005 to 2009, various roles in films made by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, ...

, comedian, actress * David 'Dai' Flanagan, rugby union player *

Dan Flanagan Daniel Collins Flanagan (April 23, 1899 – February 28, 1960)"Dan Flanagan, Former State Judge, Dies", ''The Munster Times'' (February 29, 1960), p. 5. was an United States of America, American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a just ...

, American judge *

De Witt C. Flanagan De Witt Clinton Flanagan (December 28, 1870, New York City – January 15, 1946, Utica, New York) was an American businessman and Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who briefly represented the New Jersey ...

, an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey * Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town *

Ed Flanagan (disambiguation) Ed or Edward Flanagan may refer to: Sports *Ed Flanagan (American football) (1944–2023), American football player * Ed Flanagan (athlete) (1910–1978), American hammer thrower *Ed Flanagan (baseball) (1861–1926), American baseball player Othe ...

, multiple people * Fionnula Flanagan, actress * Fred Flanagan (1924–2013), Australian rules footballer *

Gaynor Flanagan Gaynor Anita Motley ( Flanagan, 10 January 1933 – 21 February 1999) was an Australian women's basketball player. Biography Flanagan played for the Australia women's national basketball team at the 1957 FIBA World Championship for Women, host ...

(1933–1999), Australian basketball player *

Guy Flanagan Guy Nicholas Flanagan (born 1980) is an English actor, best known for portraying John Mitchell in the pilot episode of '' Being Human''. Background Born in New Longton, Lancashire, Flanagan attended Cardinal Newman College, and went on to trai ...

, British actor *

Hallie Flanagan Hallie Flanagan Davis (August 27, 1889 in Redfield, South Dakota – June 23, 1969 in Old Tappan, New Jersey) was an American theatrical producer and director, playwright, and author, best known as director of the Federal Theatre Project, a pa ...

, theatre director, producer * Harley Flanagan, musician * Helen Flanagan, actress * Ian Flanagan, tennis player * Jack Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people * Sir Jamie Flanagan, former Chief Constable of the

Royal Ulster Constabulary The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. It was founded on 1 June 1922 as a successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC)Richard Doherty, ''The Thin Green Line – The History of the Royal ...

(RUC) * John Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people *

Jon Flanagan Jonathon Patrick Flanagan (born 1 January 1993) is a former English professional footballer who played as a full-back. Flanagan started his career with Liverpool, and later played for Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Rangers. He played in one f ...

, footballer *

Kitty Flanagan Kitty Flanagan (born 1968) is an Australian comedian, writer and actress who works in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has also performed in France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Japan and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and ...

, Australian comedian * Kyle Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people *

Lauren Flanigan Lauren Flanigan (born May 18, 1958) is an American operatic soprano who has had an active international career since the 1980s. She enjoyed a particularly fruitful partnership with the New York City Opera, appearing with the company almost every y ...

, an American operatic soprano *

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (born 22 January 1972) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Midlands–North-West constituency since 2014. He is an Independent, but sits in parliament with The ...

, Irish politician, MEP *

Maile Flanagan Maile Flanagan () is an American television, film, and voice actress known for her work in cartoons, anime and video games. Some of her prominent roles include Naruto Uzumaki in the English dub of ''Naruto'', Piggley Winks in ''Jakers! The Adven ...

, American actress *

Markus Flanagan Markus Flanagan (born August 20, 1964) is an American actor. Career In 1990, he starred in the short-lived ABC police drama '' Sunset Beat'' alongside George Clooney, Michael Deluise and Erik King. He was a series regular on NBC's ''Nurses'' ...

, American actor * Martin Flanagan (journalist), journalist *

Mary Flanagan Mary Flanagan is an artist, author, educator, and designer. She pioneered the field of game research with her ideas on critical play and has written five books. She is the founding director of the research laboratory and design studio Tiltfactor ...

, American artist, author, educator, and designer *

Matt Flanagan (American football) Matt Flanagan (born March 26, 1995) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Pittsburgh Panthers football, Pittsburgh, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins in 2018. Earl ...

(born 1995), American football player * Michael Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people * Micky Flanagan, comedian * Mike Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people * Nick Flanagan, Australian golfer * Nick Flanagan, Irish LGBT+ Activist *

Oliver J. Flanagan Oliver James Flanagan (22 May 1920 – 26 April 1987) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Defence from 1976 to 1977 and as a Parliamentary Secretary from 1954 to 1957 and from 1975 to 1976. He served as a Teachta Dála ...

, Irish politician *

Owen Flanagan Owen Flanagan (born 1949) is the James B. Duke University Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Professor of Neurobiology Emeritus at Duke University. Flanagan has done work in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, philosophy of social s ...

, philosopher *

Patrick Flanagan Patrick Flanagan (October 11, 1944 - December 19, 2019) was an American New Age author and inventor. Flanagan wrote books focused on Egyptian sacred geometry and Pyramidology. In 1958, at the age of 14, while living in Bellaire, Texas, Bellai ...

, inventor * Paddy Flanagan, cyclist *

Pauline Flanagan Pauline Flanagan (29 June 1925 – 28 June 2003) was a Irish-born actress who had a long career on stage, she was best known in the United States for her role as Annie Colleary, on the television soap opera '' Ryan's Hope'' in 1979 and again in ...

, actress * Peter Flanagan, an English rugby league footballer * Peter Flanagan (rugby union), Irish-Australian rugby union player * Ralph Flanagan, a big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for orchestras *

Ralph Flanagan (swimmer) Ralph Drew Flanagan (December 14, 1918 – February 8, 1988) was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States at two consecutive Summer Olympics during the 1930s.Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes Ralph Flanagan ...

, an American competition swimmer *

Richard Flanagan Richard Miller Flanagan (born 1961) is an Australian writer, who has also worked as a film director and screenwriter. He won the 2014 Man Booker Prize for his novel '' The Narrow Road to the Deep North''. Flanagan was described by the ''Washing ...

, author, historian, film director *

Roderick Flanagan Roderick Flanagan (1 April 1828 – 13 March 1862) was an Irish historian, anthropologist, poet, newspaper proprietor, and journalist. He was born in Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland and died when he was 34 years of age in East London, after spe ...

, journalist, poet, historian * Sir Ronnie Flanagan, former Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and last Chief Constable of the RUC * Seán Flanagan, politician * Seán Flanagan, Irish comedian * Shalane Flanagan, middle-distance runner *

Shane Flanagan Shane Flanagan (born 2 December 1965) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach, and was the Head Coach of the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. He was appointed assistant coach of NRL team Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2006 and was s ...

, Australian rugby league football coach * Steamer Flanagan, baseball player *

Terence Flanagan Terence Flanagan (born 1 January 1975) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as a Dublin City Councillor since May 2019. He previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-East constituency from 2007 to 2016. He was a m ...

, an Irish politician * Terry Flanagan (disambiguation) * Thomas Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people * Tom Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people * Tommy Flanagan (actor) * Tommy Flanagan, jazz pianist * Vester Flanagan, American news reporter and perpetrator of the Murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward * Walt Flanagan, a comic book store manager, reality television personality, podcaster, comic book artist, and songwriter

References

* Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall. Irish Names and Surnames Collected and Edited with explanatory and Historical Notes. Woulfe, Rev. Patrick; Bhulbh, Padraig De, Published by M. H. Gill, Dublin, 1923. * A Census of Ireland c. 1659. Pender, S (Ed.), Published by Stationery Office, Dublin, 1939. (A presentation of the Irish 'census' conducted by Sir William Petty between 1654 and 1659.) * Irish Pedigrees; or the origin and stem of the Irish nation, Vols 1 and 2. O'Hart, John. Published by M. H. Gill, Dublin, 1878. * The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time. Burke, Sir John Bernard. Published by Harrison and Sons, London, 1884, pp 503 & 1299. * Fairbairn's Book Of Crests Of The Families Of Great Britain And Ireland. Fairburn, James. Published by T. C. & E. C. Jack, London, 1905.

External links

https://research.ucc.ie/doi/atlas

https://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/product/a-census-of-ireland-circa-1659/

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t7dr36q7f&view=1up&seq=1&q1=flanagan