Brogan or O'Brogan, is a surname originating in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

anglicized Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

from the original Ó Brógáin. The form McBrogan, is also present sharing the meaning of O'Brogan, essentially "son of Brogan." The name can be traced back to ancient King

Breogán Breogán (also spelt Breoghan, Bregon or Breachdan) is a character in the ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'', a medieval Christian history of Ireland and the Irish (or Gaels). He is supposedly the son of Brath, and is described as an ancestor of the Gael ...

, and Saint Brogan (Broccán Clóen), Saint Patrick's nephew and scribe, and has many original meanings, including sorrowful, sharp-faced, sturdy and strong. Traditionally, Brogan has also been used as a first name for boys, after the Saint.

Notable people with the name

Alan Brogan Alan Brogan (born 11 January 1982) is a Gaelic footballer from the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh club who played for the Dublin county team from 2002 until his retirement in 2015. He can play in the full forward line but usually played cen ...

, an Irish footballer *

Benedict Brogan Benedict Brogan is a British former journalist, formerly deputy editor and chief political commentator of ''The Daily Telegraph''.Jack Sommer"Telegraph Cuts High-Profile Journalists Benedict Brogan and Damian Thompson in Latest Cull" ''The Huffi ...

, English journalist *

Bernard Brogan (senior) Bernard Brogan is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh club and for the Dublin county team. He won three All-Ireland senior football medals in the 1970s. Playing career Brogan, who mostly played mi ...

, an Irish footballer *

Bernard Brogan (junior) Bernard Brogan (born 3 April 1984) is a Gaelic footballer from the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh club who previously played for the Dublin county team. He is originally from the Battery Heights. From a famous footballing family, he is the ...

, an Irish footballer *

Bill Brogan William Henry Joseph Brogan (28 April 1900 – 6 March 1983) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a New South Wales rugby league team, state and Australia national rugby league team, national repre ...

, Australian rugby league footballer *

Colm Brogan Colm Brogan (20 October 1902 – 28 January 1977) was a Scottish journalist and writer. Background He was born in Glasgow to Denis Brogan, a tailor from Donegal.''The Times'' (29 January 1977), p. 14. One of Colm Brogan's four brothers was the h ...

, a Scottish journalist and political pamphleteer *

Denis William Brogan Sir Denis William Brogan (11 August 1900 – 5 January 1974) was a Scottish writer and historian. Early life and education Denis Brogan was born in Glasgow, the eldest son of Denis Brogan (1856–1934), a master tailor, and Elizabeth Toner. ...

(1900–1974), Scottish historian *

Frank Brogan Frank T. Brogan (born September 6, 1953) is the former Assistant Secretary of Education (Elementary and Secondary Education). He succeeded Deborah S. Delisle. He is the former Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, fo ...

, an American politician *

Hugh Brogan Denis Hugh Vercingetorix Brogan (20 March 1936 – 26 July 2019) known as Hugh Brogan, was a British historian and biographer. Early life The son of Sir Denis Brogan and Olwen Phillis Francis (Lady Brogan), OBE, archaeologist and authority on R ...

(1936–2019), British historian * Jack Brogan (1930–2022), American art fabricator *

James Brogan (footballer born 1865) James Brogan was a Scottish footballer who played for the majority of his career at Bolton Wanderers. He played mostly as an inside-left or outside-left. Having started his career in the amateur game with his local club Beith, he signed for ...

, a Scottish footballer * James Brogan (footballer born 1890), a Scottish footballer *

Jim Brogan (basketball) James Riley Brogan (born February 24, 1958) is a retired American basketball player. Born in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, he played collegiately for the West Virginia Wesleyan College. He played for the San Diego Clippers (1981–83) in the Na ...

, an American basketball player *

Jim Brogan (Scottish footballer) James Andrew Brogan (5 June 1944 – 24 September 2018) was a Scottish footballer who played in over 200 league games for Jock Stein's highly successful Celtic sides of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He joined Celtic from local side St Roch' ...

, a Scottish footballer *

Jim Brogan (Gaelic footballer) Jim Brogan is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Dublin county team. Brogan won an all-Ireland medal with Dublin in 1977 in a game in which he made an appearance as a substitute. Dublin beat Armagh in the final by 5-12 t ...

, an Irish Gaelic footballer * John Brogan (footballer born 1958), a Scottish footballer * Joseph Brogan, American politician, Missouri senator *

Mervyn Brogan Lieutenant General Sir Mervyn Francis Brogan, (10 January 1915 – 8 March 1994) was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff from 1971 to 1973. A 1935 graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, w ...

, an Australian army officer *

Michelle Brogan Michelle Brogan (born 8 February 1973) is a former basketball player from Australia, who won the bronze medal with the Australia women's national basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Four years later she was on the s ...

, an Australian basketball player * Mike Brogan, an author's pseudonym * Nicola Brogan, Northern Irish politician * Stephen Brogan, an English footballer *

William Brogan William Henry Joseph Brogan (28 April 1900 – 6 March 1983) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a state and national representative. Background Brogan was born at West Wyalong, New South Wales ...

, Australian rugby player

References

{{surname Surnames of British Isles origin Anglicised Irish-language surnames