Hogan surname history

The Irish version of the surname is O hOgain, from a diminutive of og, meaning "young". The original Ogan from whom the family claim descent lived in the tenth century and was an uncle of Brian Boru, the High King who defeated the Vikings at Clontarf in 1014. Like Brian Boru, they were part of the Dal gCais tribal grouping, whose original territory took in Clare and parts of Tipperary. The (O')Hogans were centred on Ardcrony, near the modern town of Nenagh in north Tipperary, where their chief had his seat. From there, the surname spread far and wide, and is today one of the most common in Ireland, with particular concentrations close to the first homeland, in counties Clare, Tipperary and Limerick. In addition, significant numbers are to be found in Cork, where it is thought that the name may have had a separate origin, in the south-west of that county. O hOgain is recorded as the name of one of the minor families of the Corca Laoidhe tribal grouping.

The family are well represented in the placenames of their original homeland with two Ballyhogans in north Tipperary (parishes of Knigh and Burgesbeg) and one in south Galway (Abbeygormacan). There is also a Knockhogan in Clare (Doora), a Derryhogan in Tipperary (Twomileborris) and a Drumhogan in Galway (Abbeygormacan).

In 1890 there were 193 births of the name, making the surname 92nd most common in Ireland. In 1996 it was ranked 109th.

.John Hogan (1800-1858) was a sculptor who gained an international reputation.

Patrick Hogan (1892-1936) was the first Minister for Agriculture after independence. His namesake Patrick Hogan (1886-1969) was also a member of Dail Eireann, the Irish Parliament, for almost 40 years as a Labour Party T.D., and served as Ceann Comhairle (speaker) from 1951 to 1967.

Desmond Hogan (1950 - ), originally from Ballinalsoe Co. Galway is one of the best known of the young novelists who emerged from the Irish Writers? Co-Op in the 1970s. His stage and television plays and short stories are also highly regarded.