Contents [hide]

Coogan History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Coogan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland
Scotland

Celtic in origin, the name Coogan came from the rugged landscape of Wales. The name's origins go back to a time when the Coogan family lived in the parish of Cogan, which is in the diocese of Llandaff in the county of Glamorgan. The name literally means "a cup or bowl" 1 and probably meant "dweller in a bowl-shaped valley." 2

Early Origins of the Coogan family

The surname Coogan was first found in Glamorganshire (Welsh: Sir Forgannwg), a region of South Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Glywysing at Cogan, a parish, in the union of Cardiff, hundred of Dinas-Powys, county of Glamorgan, South Wales. 3

"Cogan or Coggan is an ancient west of England name. There was a John de Cogan, of Hunispull, Somerset, in the reign of Edward I.; and in the reign of Richard II., William Cogan was sheriff of the county. De Cogan was a name found also in different parts of Devonshire in the time of Edward I., and it has long been an old Tiverton name." 4

Exploring Somerset in more detail, Richard Cogan was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 5 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: John de Cogan, Somerset; and John de Cogan, Devon 6

"From this it is clear that the south-west forms of the surname are derived from the Llandaff parish. To Somerset and Devon was not a long journey." 6

In Devon, Bampton was the passed from the Paganell "heiress to Sir Milo Cogan, 'the great soldier and undertaker of the Irish Conquest.' Her descendant, Richard Cogan, had licence in 1336 to castellate his mansion house at Bampton, and to empark his wood and other lands at Uffculme. Every vestige of the castle has long disappeared." 7

Scotland was home to the family about this time. "Peter Cogan witnessed the gift of an acre of land in Coldingham to the monks of St. Cuthbert, and Robert Cogan witnessed a charter of lands in Raynigton to the Priory of Coldingham, 1275. Robert Cogan del counte de Berewyk rendered homage, 1296. [(to King Edward I during his invasion of Scotland)]" 8

The name "is uncommon in the Isle of Man." 9

Early History of the Coogan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coogan research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1230, 1233, 1278, 1545, 1591, 1593, 1605, 1607, 1684, 1686, 1716, 1723, 1731, 1780 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Coogan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coogan Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. The earliest explanation for the preponderance of spelling variations is that when Welsh surnames were in Welsh and accordingly were difficult to translate into English. It was therefore up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Coogan have included Cogan, Cogen, Coogan, Coogen, Coogin, Coggan, Coggen, Coggin, Coggins, Gogan, Goggin and many more.

Early Notables of the Coogan family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Thomas Cogan (1545?-1607), English physician, born about 1545 at Chard, Somersetshire. He was educated at Oxford. He practised as a physician at Manchester. Before 1686 he married Ellen, daughter of Sir Edmund...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coogan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coogan Ranking

In the United States, the name Coogan is the 16,217^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10

Migration of the Coogan family to Ireland

Some of the Coogan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coogan migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Coogan:

Coogan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catherine Coogan, aged 8, who landed in America from Ireland, in 1893
Hugh Coogan, aged 2, who immigrated to the United States from Ireland, in 1893

Coogan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

H. J. Coogan, who immigrated to America from London, in 1903
Corns Coogan, aged 4, who landed in America, in 1904
James Coogan, aged 22, who landed in America from Fermory, Ireland, in 1907
Daniel Coogan, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1909
Bridget Coogan, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Charlestown, Ireland, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Coogan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coogan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Coogan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Mr. James Coogan, aged 15 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lady Flora Hastings" departing 11th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but he died on board 11
Mr. John Coogan who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Abbotsford" departing 23rd April 1847 from Dublin, Ireland; the ship arrived on 21st June 1847 but he died on board 11
Miss. Judith Coogan, aged 7 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Columbia" departing 1st May 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board 11
Miss. Mary Coogan, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Bee" departing 17th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but she died on board 11

Coogan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Coogan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elinor Coogan, (b. 1768), aged 50, Irish servant who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mary Coogan, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Confiance" 13
Anne Coogan, aged 19, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
Teresa Coogan, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"
Mary Coogan, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Coogan (post 1700) +

Richard Coogan (1914-2014), American actor, best known for his portrayal of Captain Video in Captain Video and His Video Rangers from 1949 to 1950
Keith Coogan (b. 1970), American actor, grandson of actor Jackie Coogan
John Leslie "Jackie" Coogan (1914-1984), American child actor in silent films who sued his mother and stepfather over his squandered film earnings which led to the Coogans Act
Brian Coogan (b. 1979), American keyboardist and vocalist
Gwynneth Coogan (b. 1965), former American Olympic athlete, educator and mathematician
Timothy Patrick "Tim Pat" Coogan (b. 1935), Irish writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan (b. 1965), British BAFTA Award winning comedian, actor, writer and producer

The Coogan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Constans fidei
Motto Translation: Constant to honor.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales. Institute of Historical Research, 1849, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 70)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
South Australian Register Wednesday 13th September 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Confiance 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/confiance1854.shtml
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1857.shtml