Surname Goggins - Meaning and Origin

Goggins: What does the surname Goggins mean?

The surname Goggins is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uiginn", which means "son of Uiginn". The personal name Uiginn translates to "Viking", thus the surname can essentially be understood to mean "son of Viking". Like many Irish surnames, the original Gaelic form was anglicized over time, resulting in variations such as Goggin, Goggins, and Gogan. The surname predominates in the northern county of Donegal, Ireland, but it can be found in other parts of Ireland and in countries where the Irish emigrated. It is important to note that the meanings of surnames can be influenced by various factors including regional dialects, historical events and societal changes, therefore they may not hold a universally accepted interpretation. In the specific context of an individual, it is best not to derive too much assumption about their origin or identity solely based on the meaning of their surname.

Goggins: Where does the name Goggins come from?

The surname Goggins is of Irish origin. It is derived from the native Gaelic O'Gogan sept who were located in County Clare and the surrounding territories in the Western region of Ireland. Another sept was located in County Donegal in the northern province of Ulster. Today, the name is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the regions where the septs were originally located, and in countries that saw significant Irish emigration such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The surname predominantly has Celtic roots, but like many other surnames, has evolved and been influenced over time by different cultures, migrations, and language shifts. Despite the global dispersion of Irish emigrants, Goggins persistently remains heavily concentrated within Europe, especially in the west. Regardless of these variations, the original Gaelic version of Goggins, O'Gogan, can still be found today in many genealogical records and historical texts, indicating the lasting cultural and historical significance of this name.

Variations of the surname Goggins

The surname Goggins is primarily Irish in origin and known to have variations in its spelling based on geographical location and local dialects. Variations of the Goggins surname include Goggin, Goggan, Gogans and Goggans. These spellings all denote the same family lineage but reflect spelling differences due to historical records and translations over time.

It's derived from the ancient Irish name "O Gogaín," later anglicized as O'Goggin. This surname indicates a descendant or follower of a person named Gogaín, typically a unique personal name. However, without further historical context or specific genealogical data, the exact meaning of the name "Gogaín" is unknown.

Some Goggins might also be of English origin, where it might be a locational name for a person from Giggleswick in North Yorkshire, originally spelled as 'Gikel's Wick.'

The different spelling versions of the same surname mainly arose when a family moved to a new area or country and phonetically spelled or adjusted their name to match their new area's language or dialect. Therefore it's always essential to trace the surname's origin back to its original spelling or form.

Famous people with the name Goggins

• Walton Goggins: Actor known for his portrayals of Boyd Crowder in the FX series Justified, Lee Russell in HBO's Vice Principals, Ant-Man's Sonny Burch, and Tina Parker in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
• Don Goggins: Music producer, songwriter and vocalist, most known for his work with Diana Ross and as a co-writer of several songs on the Jackson 5’s first album.
• Carl Goggins: Football coach at Oregon State, he played college football at Bowdoin College and is an inductee of the Bowdoin College Athletic Hall of Fame.
• Phil Goggins: Professional basketball player who plaed 8 years in the National Basketball League and the American Basketball League.
• Daniel Goggins: Retired professional baseball catcher who played Major League baseball from 1895 to 1902 with teams such as Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns and Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Ray Goggins– Former NBA player who played 8 seasons with the L.A. Lakers and is currently an assistant coach with the team.
• Charles Goggins: Olympic runner who competed on the United States track team in the 1948 London Summer games and again in the 1952 Helsinki Summer games.
• David Goggins: Retired U.S. Navy SEAL who holds the record for most pull-ups in one hour and has competed in multiple ultramarathons, triathlons and other races.

Other surnames

Goggin