# Regan

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Regan.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regan
> Source revision: 1353749291
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{other uses|Regan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox surname
| name = Regan
|image=
|imagesize=
|caption=
| pronunciation =
| meaning =  From ''ri'' "sovereign, king" and the diminutive ''-in''; hence "the king's child"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.babynamesofireland.com/regan|title=Regan - Meaning of Name Regan - Pronounce Regan Irish Girl Name}}</ref><ref name=calling>{{cite web |url=http://ireland-calling.com/irish-names-regan/ |title = History of the Irish name Regan}}</ref>
| region = Ireland
| language = Irish
| variant = Riagán, Ríogáin, Ó Riagáin, Ó Ríogáin, O Regan, O'Reagan, O'Regan, Ragon, Riggin, Riggins 
| footnotes = <ref>[http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Regan - origin]</ref>
}}

The family name '''Regan''', along with its cognates '''O'Regan''', '''O Regan''', '''Reagan''', and '''Ragon''','''O'Reagan''', is an [Anglicized](/source/Anglicized) form of the [Irish](/source/Irish_language) [surname](/source/surname) '''Ó Riagáin''' or '''Ó Ríogáin''', from [Ua Riagáin](/source/Riag%C3%A1in). The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient [Gaelic](/source/Goidelic_languages) ''ri'' "sovereign, king" and the [diminutive](/source/diminutive) suffix ''-in''; thus "the king's child" or "big king".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://babynames.allparenting.com/list/Celtic_Baby_Names/Regan/details/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531041643/http://babynames.allparenting.com/list/Celtic_Baby_Names/Regan/details/ |archive-date=2012-05-31 |title=Meaning of Regan - Celtic baby name}}</ref> The name was borne by two distinct families: one seated in [Meath](/source/Kingdom_of_Meath), the other in [Thomond](/source/Thomond).{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

The O'Regans of Meath were a branch of the southern [Ui Neill](/source/Ui_Neill) and one of the [four Tribes of Tara](/source/four_Tribes_of_Tara). Before the [Anglo-Norman invasion](/source/Norman_invasion_of_Ireland), they were lords of south [Breagh](/source/Breagh) and the north of present-day [County Dublin](/source/County_Dublin). They took a leading part in the wars against the [Danes](/source/Danes). In the year 1029, [Mathghamhain Ó Riagáin](/source/Mathghamhain_%C3%93_Riag%C3%A1in), king of Breagh, captured the king of Dublin, [Amhlaoibh](/source/Amhlaoibh_mac_Sitric) son of [Sitric](/source/Sigtrygg), releasing him only upon payment of an enormous ransom, which included the celebrated [Sword of Carlus](/source/Tomrair). The O'Regans were dispossessed soon after the invasion and dispersed through Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishsurnames.com/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?name=oregan&capname=O%27Regan&letter=r|title=O%27Regan Coat of Arms, Family Crest - Free Image to View - O%27Regan Name Origin History and Meaning of Symbols}}</ref>

The O'Regans of Thomond are a [Dalcassian](/source/Dalcassian) family said to be descended from [Riagán](/source/Riag%C3%A1n), son of [Donncuan](/source/Donncuan), a brother of [Brian Boru](/source/Brian_Boru).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/o-riagain/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085322/https://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/o-riagain/ |archive-date=2018-05-07 |title=Sloinne}}</ref>

The unisex forename '''[Regan](/source/Regan_(given_name))''' is likely to have derived sometime later from the [Latin](/source/Classical_Latin) ''[Regina](/source/Regina_(name))'' "queen", the feminine form of ''Rex'' (stem ''reg-'') "king", which is also the source of the name ''Reginald''.<ref name=calling/>

==Persons with the surname==
* [Ash Regan](/source/Ash_Regan) (born 1974), Scottish politician
* [Bill Regan (disambiguation)](/source/Bill_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people 
* [Bob Regan](/source/Bob_Regan) (born 1947), American country music songwriter
* [Brian Regan (disambiguation)](/source/Brian_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people
* [Bridget Regan](/source/Bridget_Regan) (born 1982), American actress
* [Charles Tate Regan](/source/Charles_Tate_Regan) (1878–1943), British ichthyologist
* [Charlotte Regan](/source/Charlotte_Regan), British director of 2023 film ''[Scrapper](/source/Scrapper_(2023_film))''
* [Daithí Regan](/source/Daith%C3%AD_Regan) (born 1968), Irish hurler
* [David M. Regan](/source/David_M._Regan) (born 1935), Canadian psychologist
* [Donald Regan](/source/Donald_Regan) (1918–2003), U.S. Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan
* [Edward Regan](/source/Edward_Regan) (1930–2014), American politician and government bureaucrat
* [Erin Regan](/source/Erin_Regan) (born 1980), retired American soccer player
* [Eugene Regan](/source/Eugene_Regan) (born 1952), Irish barrister and politician
* [Fionn Regan](/source/Fionn_Regan) (born 1981), Irish folk musician
* [Frank S. Regan](/source/Frank_S._Regan) (1862–1944), American politician and businessman
* [Geoff Regan](/source/Geoff_Regan) (born 1959), Canadian politician and federal cabinet minister, son of Gerald Regan
* [Gerald Regan](/source/Gerald_Regan) (1928–2019), 19th premier of Nova Scotia, father of Geoff, Laura and Nancy Regan
* [Jack Regan](/source/Jack_Regan) (1912–1988), Australian rules footballer
* [Jack Regan](/source/Jack_Regan) (2009-2026), Big fan of beer
* [James Regan (disambiguation)](/source/James_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people 
* [Jayne Regan](/source/Jayne_Regan) (1909–2000), American actress
* [Jessica Regan](/source/Jessica_Regan) (born 1982), Irish actress
* [Joan Regan](/source/Joan_Regan) (1928–2013), English singer
* [John Regan (disambiguation)](/source/John_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people 
* [Judith Regan](/source/Judith_Regan) (born 1953), book publisher
* [Julianne Regan](/source/Julianne_Regan) (born 1962), English singer, songwriter and musician, lead singer of the band All About Eve
* [Kelly Regan](/source/Kelly_Regan) (born 1961), Canadian politician, wife of Geoff Regan
* [Kenneth M. Regan](/source/Kenneth_M._Regan) (1891–1959), American politician
* [Larry Regan](/source/Larry_Regan) (1930–2009), Canadian National Hockey League player, coach, manager and executive
* [Laura Regan](/source/Laura_Regan) (born 1977), Canadian actress, daughter of Gerald Regan
* [Linda Regan](/source/Linda_Regan) (born 1949), English actress who appeared in the British TV show ''Hi-de-Hi!''
* [Mark Regan](/source/Mark_Regan) (born 1972), English rugby union player
* [Mike Regan (disambiguation)](/source/Mike_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people 
* [Nancy Regan](/source/Nancy_Regan) (born 1966), Canadian news anchor, journalist and TV personality, daughter of Gerald Regan
* [Natasha Regan](/source/Natasha_Regan) (born 1971), English chess player
* [Patrick Regan (disambiguation)](/source/Patrick_Regan_(disambiguation)), several people 
* [Phil Regan (actor)](/source/Phil_Regan_(actor)) (1906–1996)
* [Phil Regan (baseball)](/source/Phil_Regan_(baseball)) (born 1937), American Major League Baseball pitcher
* [Robert P. Regan](/source/Robert_P._Regan) (1936–1995), American businessman and politician
*[Seamus O'Regan](/source/Seamus_O'Regan) (born 1971), Canadian politician and former television personality
* [Terry Regan](/source/Terry_Regan_(rugby_league)) (born 1958), Australian former rugby league footballer
* [Tim O'Regan](/source/The_Jayhawks), American musician
* [Tom Regan](/source/Tom_Regan) (1938–2017), American philosopher, animal rights activist and academic
* [Tony Óg Regan](/source/Tony_%C3%93g_Regan) (born 1983), Irish hurler
* [Trish Regan](/source/Trish_Regan) (born 1972), American broadcast journalist and author
* [Vincent Regan](/source/Vincent_Regan) (born 1965), British actor

==Fictional characters==
* [Regan (King Lear)](/source/Regan_(King_Lear)), the middle daughter of the Shakespearean tragedy's protagonist
* [Jack Regan](/source/Jack_Regan_(The_Sweeney)), protagonist of the British television police drama ''The Sweeney''
* Rory Regan, real name of [Ragman](/source/Ragman_(character)), a DC Comics superhero
* Rusty Regan, a never-seen character in the Raymond Chandler novel ''[The Big Sleep](/source/The_Big_Sleep)''

==See also==
* [Reagan (disambiguation)](/source/Reagan_(disambiguation))

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{given name|type=both}}

Category:Surnames of Irish origin
Category:Surnames of Scottish origin
Category:English-language surnames
Category:Surnames derived from given names

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Regan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.