Surname Mulligan - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Ancestral Grit and Culture of Mulligans: A DNA Test Journey
Delving into the intricacies of my ancestral origins through an iGENEA DNA test, I discovered fascinating facts about my surname, Mulligan. Tracing back to early Christian Ireland, it led me to revelations about my historical and cultural heritage rooted in Irish and possibly Viking culture.
R. Mulligan
read moreMulligan: What does the surname Mulligan mean?
The surname Mulligan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic term “Ó Maolagáin” which means 'descendant of Maolagáin'. The prefix “Ó” implies a 'descendant of', while the term “Maolagáin” is a personal name derived from the word 'maol' meaning 'bald' or 'tonsured one'. This personal name probably referred to someone who was a follower or devotee, as the term 'maol' was often used to describe a devotee of a religious figure or saint. Therefore, someone bearing the surname Mulligan would be a descendant of such a devotee. Traditionally, it’s a prevalent name in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Like many Irish surnames, the meaning doesn’t necessarily provide a direct description of the profession or personal characteristics of the individual, rather it speaks to an ancestral tie dating back to ancient Gaelic culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMulligan: Where does the name Mulligan come from?
The last name Mulligan is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic "O'Maolagain", which means "descendant of the bald or tonsured one". The prefix "O" indicates "descendant of", and "Maol" means "bald or tonsured". The suffix "-again" is a diminutive, adding endearment. Despite being a well-established surname in Ireland, this surname was first found in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland where they held a family seat from ancient times.
Today, the Mulligan surname is most prevalent in the United States, according to data from Forebears. Within the U.S, it is more commonly found in New York, followed by Massachusetts and California. It is also relatively common in Australia, Canada, England, and of course, Ireland. Despite its dispersion across the globe, the Mulligan surname is most commonly found in Co. Donegal and Co. Dublin in Ireland. While the Mulligan name carries Irish origins, it has certainly spread its roots internationally.
Variations of the surname Mulligan
The surname Mulligan has Irish Gaelic origins, coming from the name "Ó Maolagáin," which means "descendant of the bald or shaven one." It's quite a common name in Ireland and its popularity has spread across the world due to Irish immigration.
There are numerous variants and spelling alternations of Mulligan. These include Molligan, Muligan, Mullikin, Mullikine, Mulliken, Mulingan, and Miligan.
It's also quite common for Irish surnames to be Anglicised, further increasing the number of potential variants. For example, the original Gaelic surname "Ó Maolagáin" might have been changed to Mulligan, Melligan, Melican, Malagan, Milikin, Milliken, Milligan or Meligan when families moved to English-speaking countries.
Surnames can also change due to misspellings, misunderstandings or typographical errors. This is particularly true for families that immigrated to countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, where their names could have been incorrectly recorded by immigration officials. These mistakes have often been carried forward, resulting in even more variations of the original surname.
Despite these changes, the roots of the name Mulligan can often still be traced back to the original Gaelic "Ó Maolagáin."
Famous people with the name Mulligan
- Patrick Mulligan: Patrick is an American actor best known for his roles in movies like Mousehunt (1997) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).
- Reagan Mulligan: Reagan is an American musician from Berkeley, California who has released two solo albums and played drums for the band The Morning Benders.
- Charles Mulligan: Charles was an American journalist and editor who was the first editor of the Chicago Tribune.
- Keala Mulligan: Keala is an American actress who has made numerous television appearances and is best known for her role in the television series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
- Cormac Mulligan: Cormac is a multi-instrumentalist and session musician, best known for his work with the Irish band the Corrs.
- Miles Mulligan: Miles is an American recording artist, producer, and songwriter who released his first studio album, Echoes of Sound, in 2009.
- Katie Mulligan: Katie is an Australian actress known for her roles in Neighbours, Out of the Blue, and Enough Rope with Andrew Denton in 2007.
- Cassady Mulligan: Cassady is an American singer-songwriter with two full-length albums under her belt.
- Debora Mulligan: Debora is a Brazilian actress, best known for her roles in the telenovela Passione and the feature film Quase Dois Irmãos.
- Sean Mulligan: Sean is an American film director, writer, and producer who has been working in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. His credits include the movies Boiler Room (2000) and Secret Window (2004).