The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an

Anglicized 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 ...

form of the Irish

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient

Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

''ri'' "sovereign, king" and the

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 ...

suffix ''-in''; thus "the king's child" or "big king". The name was borne by two distinct families: one seated in

Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

, the other in

Thomond Thomond ( Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the Kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nena ...

. The O'Regans of Meath were a branch of the southern Ui Neill and one of the

four Tribes of Tara The Four Tribes of Tara was an alliance of powerful clans that consisted of the O'Harts, O'Kelly's, O'Connolly, and the O'Regan. The princes of Tara were also styled princes of Brega, consisting of territory in the modern day counties Meath, Louth ...

. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion, they were lords of south Breagh and the north of present-day

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

. They took a leading part in the wars against the

Danes Danes (, ), or Danish people, are an ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural. History Early history Denmark ...

. In the year 1029,

Mathghamhain Ó Riagáin Mathghamhain mac Cian was a nobleman of the Eóganacht Raithlind and a grandson of Brian Boru, one of the High Kings of Ireland. He was the son of Cian mac Máelmuaid and his wife Sadhbh, daughter of Brian Boru. The ''Leabhar Oiris'' records Math ...

, king of Breagh, captured the king of Dublin, Amhlaoibh son of Sitric, releasing him only upon payment of an enormous ransom, which included the celebrated Sword of Carlus. The O'Regans were dispossessed soon after the invasion and dispersed through Ireland. The O'Regans of Thomond are a Dalcassian family said to be descended from Riagán, son of Donncuan, a brother of

Brian Boru Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Vikings, Viking invasio ...

. The unisex forename Regan is likely to have derived sometime later from the

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 ...

'' Regina'' "queen", the feminine form of ''Rex'' (stem ''reg-'') "king", which is also the source of the name ''Reginald''.

Persons with the surname

Ash Regan Ashten Regan (formerly Denham, born Sarah Jane Regan; 8 March 1974) is a Scottish politician. She has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh Eastern since 2016 Scottish Parliament election, 2016. Initially elected to par ...

(born 1974), Scottish politician *

Bill Regan (disambiguation) Bill Regan may refer to: *Bill Regan (baseball) (1899–1968), American professional baseball second baseman *Bill Regan (ice hockey) William Donald Regan (December 11, 1908 – February 16, 1995) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player wh ...

, several people *

Bob Regan Robert Joseph Regan is a Grammy nominated American country music songwriter. His chart credits include "Til Love Comes Again" by Reba McEntire, " Busy Man" by Billy Ray Cyrus, " Your Everything" by Keith Urban, "Soon" by Tanya Tucker, " Thinkin ...

(born 1947), American country music songwriter *

Brian Regan (disambiguation) Brian Regan may refer to: *Brian Regan (comedian) (born 1958), American stand-up comedian *Brian Regan (actor) (born 1957), British actor *Brian Patrick Regan (born 1962), American intelligence officer *Brian Regan (writer) Brian Regan is an A ...

, several people *

Bridget Regan Bridget Catherine Regan ( ; born February 3, 1982) is an American actress best known for her lead roles as Kahlan Amnell in the ABC adventure romance series ''Legend of the Seeker'' (2008–10) and Sasha Cooper in the last three seasons of the ...

(born 1982), American actress *

Charles Tate Regan Charles Tate Regan (1 February 1878 – 12 January 1943) was a British ichthyology, ichthyologist, working mainly around the beginning of the 20th century. He did extensive work on fish classification schemes. Born in Sherborne, Dorset, he was ...

(1878–1943), British ichthyologist * Charlotte Regan, British director of 2023 film '' Scrapper'' *

Daithí Regan Daithí Regan (born 1968 in Birr, County Offaly) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Birr and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team between 1989 and 1999. Regan currently works as a hurling ...

(born 1968), Irish hurler * David M. Regan (born 1935), Canadian psychologist *

Donald Regan Donald Thomas Regan (December 21, 1918 – June 10, 2003) was an American government official and business executive who served as the 66th United States secretary of the treasury from 1981 to 1985 and as the 11th White House chief of staff fr ...

(1918–2003), U.S. Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan *

Edward Regan Edward Van Buren Regan (May 14, 1930 – October 18, 2014) (nicknamed Ned) was an American politician and public figure from New York State. He was a member of the Republican Party. Regan's political career began on the Buffalo Common Counci ...

(1930–2014), American politician and government bureaucrat * Erin Regan (born 1980), retired American soccer player *

Eugene Regan Eugene Alexander Regan (born 12 June 1952) is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the European Court of Justice since October 2015. He previously served as a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 2007 to 2011. Early and personal life ...

(born 1952), Irish barrister and politician *

Fionn Regan Fionn Regan (born 1981) is an Irish folk musician and singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Bray, Regan came to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, '' The End of History'' in 2006. He had been releasing extended plays for si ...

(born 1981), Irish folk musician * Frank S. Regan (1862–1944), American politician and businessman *

Geoff Regan Geoffrey Paul Regan (born November 22, 1959) is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 36th speaker of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Liberal Party, he was the member of Parliament (MP) for Halifax West 20 ...

(born 1959), Canadian politician and federal cabinet minister, son of Gerald Regan *

Gerald Regan Gerald Augustine Paul Regan (February 13, 1928 – November 26, 2019) was a Canadian politician (as federal MP and later as Nova Scotia MLA), who served as the 19th premier of Nova Scotia from 1970 to 1978. Early life and education Regan wa ...

(1928–2019), 19th premier of Nova Scotia, father of Geoff, Laura and Nancy Regan *

Jack Regan John Vincent Regan (12 September 1912 – 11 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and 1940s. Playing career Recruited from Northcote, Regan str ...

(1912–1988), Australian rules footballer * James Regan (disambiguation), several people *

Jayne Regan Bobbie Stoffregen (July 28, 1909 – March 19, 2000), known professionally as Jayne Regan, was an American film actress. Her original name was sometimes seen as Bobby Stoffregen. Regan was the daughter of Herman C. and Anna Stoffregen. From age ...

(1909–2000), American actress *

Jessica Regan Jessica Regan (born 24 February 1982) is an Irish actress, known for portraying the role of Niamh Donoghue in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors''. For her portrayal of the role, she won the award for Best Female Acting Performance at the 2014 RTS M ...

(born 1982), Irish actress *

Joan Regan Joan Regan (born Joan E. Bethell; 19 January 1928 – 12 September 2013) was an English traditional pop singer, popular during the 1950s and early 1960s. Biography Joan E. Bethell was born in either Romford, Essex, or West Ham, London (sour ...

(1928–2013), English singer * John Regan (disambiguation), several people *

Judith Regan Judith Regan (born August 17, 1953) is an American editor, producer, book publisher, and television and radio talk show host. She is the head of Regan Arts. Early life and education Regan grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and Bay Shore, New Y ...

(born 1953), book publisher *

Julianne Regan Julianne Regan (born 30 June 1962) is an English/Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. She achieved success in the late 1980s and early 1990s having formed the band All About Eve. Her major role in the band was as lead singer and songwriter ...

(born 1962), English singer, songwriter and musician, lead singer of the band All About Eve * Kelly Regan (born 1961), Canadian politician, wife of Geoff Regan * Kenneth M. Regan (1891–1959), American politician *

Larry Regan Lawrence Emmett Regan (August 9, 1930 – March 9, 2009), was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and hockey executive. He played for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs after a long senior-hockey career, winning the Allan Cup in 1948 ...

(1930–2009), Canadian National Hockey League player, coach, manager and executive * Laura Regan (born 1977), Canadian actress, daughter of Gerald Regan *

Linda Regan Linda Regan (born 5 November 1949), born Linda Mary Drinkwater, is a British actress and author, who has appeare ...

(born 1949), English actress who appeared in the British TV show ''Hi-de-Hi!'' * Mark Regan (born 1972), English rugby union player * Mike Regan (disambiguation), several people *

Nancy Regan Nancy Margaret Regan (born March 20, 1966) is a Canadian actress, journalist, news anchor, and television personality, most known for her fifteen-year tenure as host of CTV's Live at 5, a live news and general interest television program reachi ...

(born 1966), Canadian news anchor, journalist and TV personality, daughter of Gerald Regan * Natasha Regan (born 1971), English chess player * Patrick Regan (disambiguation), several people *

Phil Regan (actor) Philip Joseph Christopher Aloysius Regan (May 28, 1906 – February 11, 1996) was an American actor and singer who later served time for bribery in a real estate scandal. Early years Born in Brooklyn on May 28, 1906, Regan was the oldest of fi ...

(1906–1996) *

Phil Regan (baseball) Philip Ramond Regan (born April 6, 1937) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, scout, and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox; he also ...

(born 1937), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Robert P. Regan (1936–1995), American businessman and politician *

Seamus O'Regan Seamus Thomas Harris O'Regan (born January 18, 1971) is a Canadian politician and a former cabinet minister in the government of Justin Trudeau. He resigned from cabinet effective July 19, 2024. A member of the Liberal Party, O'Regan was first ...

(born 1971), Canadian politician and former television personality * Terry Regan (born 1958), Australian former rugby league footballer * Tim O'Regan, American musician *

Tom Regan Tom Regan (; November 28, 1938 – February 17, 2017) was an American philosopher who specialized in animal rights theory. He was professor emeritus of philosophy at North Carolina State University, where he had taught from 1967 until his r ...

(1938–2017), American philosopher, animal rights activist and academic *

Tony Óg Regan Tony Óg Regan (born 14 November 1983) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Rahoon-Newcastle and with the Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It ...

(born 1983), Irish hurler *

Trish Regan Patricia Ann "Trish" Regan (born December 13, 1972) is a conservative American Podcaster, author, and former television talk-show host. She hosted ''Trish Regan Primetime'' on the Fox Business Network from 2015 to 2020. Regan was previously a ...

(born 1972), American broadcast journalist and author *

Vincent Regan Vincent Regan (born 16 May 1965) is a Welsh film and television actor. Early life Regan born 16 May 1965 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. He attended Nicholas Breakspear School, St.Albans, Hertfordshire, then St Joseph's College, Ipswich, before ...

(born 1965), British actor

Fictional characters

, protagonist of the British television police drama ''The Sweeney'' * Rory Regan, real name of Ragman, a DC Comics superhero * Rusty Regan, a never-seen character in the Raymond Chandler novel ''

The Big Sleep ''The Big Sleep'' (1939) is a hardboiled crime novel by American-British writer Raymond Chandler, the first to feature the detective Philip Marlowe. It has been adapted for film twice, in 1946 and again in 1978. The story is set in Los A ...

References

{{given name, type=both Surnames of Irish origin Surnames of Scottish origin English-language surnames Surnames from given names

Persons with the surname

Fictional characters

See also

References