is an early Irish male given name, which also has the

hypocoristic A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek ; sometimes also ''hypocoristic''), or pet name, is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as '' Izzy'' for Isabel or '' Bob'' for Robert, or it ...

and

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

forms , , and . The

Modern Irish Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

form of the name is (). In

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

, the name is or . All of the above are often

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

Euan Euan is a Scottish, male given name, most common throughout the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, due to the influence of Scots in both nations. It is usually an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic name Eòghann, "noble born" and therefore de ...

Ewan Ewan is a Scottish name with multiple sources. It is usually an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic name Eòghann "noble born" and therefore derived ultimately from Latin ''Eugenius''. A Pictish name, ''Uuen'' (or ''Wen'') meaning "(the) warrior ...

Ewen Ewen is a male given name, most common throughout Scotland as well as Canada, due to the immigration of Scottish people. It is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic name, Eòghann. It is possibly a derivative of the Pictish name, ''Uuen'' (or 'W ...

or, less often,

Owen Owen may refer to: People and fictional characters * Owen (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname Places United States * Owen, Missouri, a ghost town * Owen, Wisconsin * Owen County, Indiana ...

. The name in both Goidelic languages is generally considered a derivative of the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

and

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

name , meaning "noble born".''Surnames of the United Kingdom'' (1912), reprinted for Clearfield Company, INC by Genealogical Publishing Co. INC, Baltimore 1995, 1996. Cormic gives this origin for Eogan (one MS, Eogen); and Zimmer considers Owen to be borrowed from Latin , as noted by MacBain, p. 400. The mediaeval Latinization of Owen as led to a belief that the etymology was the Welsh and Breton , "lamb". With much stronger reason it was at one time considered that the name represented Irish = Gael. . Old Irish Welsh , young ‘youth’. ''Surnames of the United Kingdom'' cites Tomás Ua Concheanainn, (p. 126), that " is a diminutive of , = Owain, Eugene"

Etymology

The derives ''Eógan'' from the

Primitive Irish Primitive Irish or Archaic Irish (), also called Proto-Goidelic, is the oldest known form of the Goidelic languages, and the ancestor of all languages within this family. This phase of the language is known only from fragments, mostly persona ...

''*'', while others such as (, in 1903) have stated that equates to and Eugene; Dr

Rachel Bromwich Rachel Bromwich (30 July 1915 – 15 December 2010), born Rachel Sheldon Amos, was a British scholar. Her focus was on medieval Welsh literature, and she taught Celtic Languages and Literature in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic ...

has commented that is a derivation of the Latin ,As cited by T.J. Morgan in ''Welsh Surnames'', page 172 making these names long-attested in Gaelic areas, yet still based on loan-words.Morgan, T.J. and Morgan, Prys, ''Welsh Surnames'', University of Wales, 1985, ''Owain (Owen, Bowen, Ednowain)''. According to T.J. Morgan in ''Welsh Surnames'' (page 172/173) Owen is a derivation of the Latin >

Old Welsh Old Welsh () is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic around 550, ha ...

, ... 'variously written in

Middle Welsh Middle Welsh (, ) is the label attached to the Welsh language of the 12th to 15th centuries, of which much more remains than for any earlier period. This form of Welsh developed directly from Old Welsh (). Literature and history Middle Welsh is ...

as . LL gives the names . The corresponding form in Irish is . Additionally, another Latinized variation of the name Owen is in certain parish registers.” Morgan notes that there are less likely alternative explanations and agrees with Dr Rachel Bromwich that Welsh “is normally latinized as Eugenius," and "both the Welsh and Irish forms are Latin derivatives". Eoghan has also been translated into English as "well born", in an example c. 1923, due to this Latin derivation, with the note that in common usage it is usually

to "

Eugene Eugene may refer to: People and fictional characters * Eugene (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Gene Eugene, stage name of Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musi ...

". The name corresponds to the Welsh , often spelt in English; as well to

and

. The most likely and widely accepted origin of the

is, like the

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic (, Ogham, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ; ; or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic languages, Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive written texts. It was used from 600 to 900. The ...

also from Latin .

List of people

Celtic nobility

* , king of Fernmag in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology * , king of * , son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, eponymous founder of the and * , eponymous ancestor of the * of Ardstraw (6th century), Irish saint * (died 839), king of Fortriu * of Argyll () (died in or after 1268) * , harper and a servant of the 9th Earl of Kildare * , sometimes known as * (fl. 934), King of the Cumbrians * (died 1015), King of the Cumbrians * (), King of the Cumbrians

Recent times

Eoghan Corry Eoghan Corry (; born 19 January 1961) is an Irish journalist and author. He has edited travel sections in national newspapers and travel publications since the 1980s. A former sportswriter and sports editor he has written books on sports histor ...

, Irish journalist and historian * Eoghan Fitzsimons, former

Attorney General of Ireland The attorney general of Ireland () is a constitutional officer who is the legal adviser to the Government and is therefore the chief law officer of the State. The attorney general is not a member of the Government but does participate in cabine ...

Eoghan Harris Eoghan Harris (born 13 March 1943) is an Irish journalist, columnist, director, and former politician. He has held posts in various and diverse political parties. He was a leading theoretician in the Marxist-Leninist Workers' Party (previously ...

, Irish politician * Eoghan Hickey, rugby player *

Eoghan Kenny Eoghan Kenny (born February 2000) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency since the 2024 general election. Early life Kenny was born and raised in Mallow. He attended the l ...

, Irish politician * Eoghan McDermott (MacDiarmada), TV broadcaster * Eoghan McGettigan, Gaelic footballer * Eoghan Quigg, Singer

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eogan Irish-language masculine given names Masculine given names

Etymology

List of people

Celtic nobility

Recent times

See also

Notes