Eoin () is a masculine

Irish-language 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 indigenou ...

given name. The

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 ...

equivalent is Eòin () and both are closely related to the Welsh . It is also cognate with the Irish and English

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

. In the Irish language, it is the name used for all

Biblical The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) biblical languages ...

figures known as ''John'' in English, including

John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

and

John the Apostle John the Apostle (; ; ), also known as Saint John the Beloved and, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Saint John the Theologian, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he ...

. and are different names from /. 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 ...

name

Eógan is an Old Irish, early Irish male given name, which also has the hypocoristic and diminutive forms , , and . The Irish language, Modern Irish form of the name is (). In Scottish Gaelic, the name is or . All of the above are often anglicisation ...

is generally considered to be a derivation 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"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.”As cited by T.J. Morgan in ''Welsh Surnames'', page 172

Political figures

* Eoin an Ile or

John of Islay, Earl of Ross John of Islay (or John MacDonald) (1434–1503), Earl of Ross, fourth (and last) Lord of the Isles, and ''Mac Domhnaill'' (chief of Clan Donald), was a pivotal figure in late medieval Scotland: specifically in the struggle for power with Jam ...

, in the 15th century *

Eoin Ó Broin Eoin Ó Broin (; born September 1972) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and writer who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin Mid-West constituency since the 2016 general election. Background Ó Broin is from Cabinteely, County Dublin. He ...

(born 1972), Irish

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...

politician *

Eoin O'Duffy Eoin O'Duffy (born Owen Duffy; 28 January 1890 – 30 November 1944) was an Irish revolutionary, soldier, police commissioner, politician and fascist. O'Duffy was the leader of the Monaghan Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a promin ...

(1890 — 1944), Irish revolutionary, leader of the Blueshirts. *

Eoin Mac Neill Eoin MacNeill (; born John McNeill; 15 May 1867 – 15 October 1945) was an Irish scholar, Irish language enthusiast, Gaelic revivalist, nationalist, and politician who served as Minister for Education from 1922 to 1925, Ceann Comhairle of Dá ...

(1867 — 1945), Irish nationalist politician and scholar. *

Eóin Tennyson Eóin Tennyson (born 17 May 1998) is a Northern Irish politician who has been the deputy leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since October 2024. He succeeded former deputy leader Stephen Farry who resigned from the position in 20 ...

, Northern Irish politician

Artists

Eoin Colfer Eoin Colfer (; born 14 May 1965) is an Irish author of children's books. He worked as a primary school teacher before he became a full-time writer. He is best known for being the author of the ''Artemis Fowl'' series. In September 2008, Colf ...

, Irish author of the ''

Artemis Fowl ''The Fowl Adventures'' is a series of eleven fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer revolving around various members of the Fowl family. The first cycle, the eight-book ''Artemis Fowl'', follows elf Lower Elements Police Reconnai ...

'' series *

Eoin McNamee Eoin McNamee (1961 in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a writer of novels and screenplays. Career McNamee studied Law at Trinity College Dublin and then worked in various occupations besides being a full-time writer. He has taught a ...

, Irish author * Eoin O'Broin, Irish DJ and producer under the stage name

Noisestorm Eoin O'Broin (), better known by his stage name Noisestorm (born 1 October 1995), is an Irish DJ and music producer. He is best known for his song "Crab Rave", which peaked at 14 on ''Billboard''s Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Early life Noisest ...

* Eoin O'Keeffe, Irish composer * Eoin Scolard, Irish author * Marcus Eoin Sandison, Scottish musician of the duo

Boards of Canada Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of the brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin. Signing first to Skam Records, Skam followed by Warp (record label), Warp Records in the 1990s, they received recognition following th ...

Eoin McCarthy Eoin McCarthy (born 1963, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish actor. He appeared in films such as '' Alien vs. Predator'' and television programmes such as '' Cadfael'' , ''Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comed ...

, Irish actor *

Eoin Macken Eoin Christopher Macken (born 21 February 1983) is an Irish actor, director, and model. Macken has modelled for Abercrombie and Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and GQ, and has appeared in films such as ''Resident Evil'', ''Close, Killing Jesus'', and '' ...

, Irish actor

Sportsmen

Gaelic Athletic Association

Gaelic footballers

Eoin Bradley Eoin Bradley (commonly known by his nickname Skinner; born 31 December 1983) is a Gaelic footballer and association footballer. He plays the former for the Glenullin club and, previously, for the Derry county team. With Glenullin he won a D ...

, a Derry player *

Eoin Brosnan Eoin Brosnan, born c.1980, is an Irish Gaelic football player who plays at centre forward. He is a former member of the Kerry senior county team and plays his club football for Dr Crokes. As of late 2021, he was a practicing solicitor, worki ...

, a three-time All Ireland winning Kerry player * Eoin Cotter, a Cork player *

Eoin Donnelly Eoin () is a masculine Irish-language given name. The Scottish Gaelic equivalent is Eòin () and both are closely related to the Welsh . It is also cognate with the Irish and English John. In the Irish language, it is the name used for all Bibli ...

, a Fermanagh player *

Eoin Liston Eoin "Bomber" Liston (born 16 October 1957 in Ballybunion, County Kerry) is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Beale, his divisional side Shannon Rangers and at senior level for the Kerry county team be ...

, a Kerry Gaelic football legend *

Eoin McHugh Eoin McHugh (born 1994/95) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for CLG Chill Chartha, Cill Chartha and the Donegal county football team, Donegal county team. He is the only son of James McHugh (Gaelic footballer), James McHugh, a member of ...

(born 1994/5), a Donegal player

Hurlers

Eoin Cadogan Eoin Cadogan (born 1 September 1986) is an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who plays for Cork Senior Championship club Douglas and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-back. Playing career ...

, a Cork hurler and footballer * Eoin Kelly (Tipperary hurler), an All-Ireland winning Tipperary player * Eoin Kelly (Waterford hurler), a three-time Munster Championship winning Waterford player * Eoin Larkin, a seven-time All-Ireland winning Kilkenny hurler * Eoin McGrath, a three-time Munster championship winning Waterford hurler * Eoin Murphy, a three-time Munster Championship winning Waterford hurler * Eoin Quigley, a Wexford hurler and former Bohemians soccer player

Soccer players

Eoin Doyle Eoin Doyle (born 12 March 1988) is an Irish former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. During his career he played for Shelbourne F.C., Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers F.C., Shamroc ...

, a

Cardiff City Cardiff City Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It currently competes in , the third tier of the English football league system in the 2025–26 season following relegation. Founded in 1899 a ...

player *

Eoin Hand Eoin Kevin Joseph Colin Hand (born 30 March 1946) is an Irish former footballer and football manager. As a player, his normal position was centre-half. He works as a television and radio football commentator for RTÉ in Ireland. Playing career ...

, soccer analyst and former manager of the Irish Soccer Team * Eoin Jess, a former Scottish international and Aberdeen player * Eoin Reid, a Celtic reserves player *

Eoin Mullen Eoin Mullen (born 6 August 1993) is an Irish professional racing cyclist. He competed in the sprint event at the 2013 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. As of 6 December 2013 he has the Irish national record in the flying 200 m time trial in ...

, a Bohemian FC player

Other

* Eoin Collins, a former Irish tennis player * Eoin Kennedy, an All-Ireland winning handballer *

Eoin Morgan Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan (born 10 September 1986) is an Irish-born English former cricketer and current commentator. He captained the England cricket team in limited overs cricket from 2015 until his international retirement in June 2022. He ...

, an Irish cricketer who now represents England * Eoin Murray, an Irish British Touring Car Championship driver *

Eoin Reddan Eoin Reddan (born Limerick, Ireland, 20 November 1980) is a retired Ireland, Irish rugby union player who played at Scrum-half (rugby union), scrum half. He initially attended the Jesuit boarding school, Clongowes Wood College, Clongowes Wood, ...

, an Irish Rugby international *

Eoin Reilly Eoin Reilly (born 1990 in Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Abbeyleix and has been goalkeeper on the Laois County Laois ( ; ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Easte ...

, a junior champion sculler and rower from New Zealand *

Eoin Rheinisch Eoin Rheinisch (born 21 February 1980 in Dublin) is an Irish people, Irish Whitewater slalom, slalom canoeist and three-time Olympic competitor. He competed at the international level from 1996 to 2013. He is from Leixlip, County Kildare. Olym ...

, an Irish canoeist * Eoin Ó Siochrú, an Irish motorcyclist * Eoin B. B. Kennelly, an Irish serial killer

Others

* Eoin Cameron, an Australian radio personality * Eóin Mac Suibhne, fourteenth-century Scottish nobleman *

Eoin McKiernan Eoin McKiernan (10 May 1915 – 18 July 2004), was teacher and scholar in the interdisciplinary field of Irish Studies in the United States and the founder of the Irish American Cultural Institute. He is credited with leading efforts to revive a ...

, an academic in the field of Irish Studies * Eoin McLove, a fictional character in the sitcom ''

Father Ted ''Father Ted'' is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews (writer), Arthur Mathews and produced by British production company Hat Trick Productions for British television channel Channel 4. It aired over three seri ...

'' * Eóin Doyle, fictional character from "the JFKs" song of the same name.

References

{{given name Irish-language masculine given names Masculine given names