Show ContentsMadan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Madan originally appeared in Gaelic as "Mac an Mhadaidh," which is probably derived from the word "madadh," which means "warrior, dog." [1]

Another source claims the family claim descent through Owen Buac, brother of Owen Fionn, ancestor of O'Madadhain, of Connaught, slain, 1008; Anglicized O'Madden, Madden. The Madden family of Longford, County Galway, the O'Madden family of Balbriggan, County Dublin and the Madden family of Ulster are all branches of the original. [2]

Alternatively, the name could have been from "descendant of little Matthew (gift of Jehovah.)" [3]

Early Origins of the Madan family

The surname Madan was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

We did find this interesting entry for the Mudrigan variant in the parish of St. Martin, Cornwall, England: "Although this parish contains no manor, Mudgian is said formerly to have had manorial rights, when it belonged to a family of this name, and was their seat. From the Mudgians it passed with an heiress in marriage to the Chynoweths." [4]

Early History of the Madan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Madan research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1347, 1556, 1567, 1677, 1713 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Madan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Madan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacAvaddy, Madden, O'Madden, Madigan, Macavadan and others.

Early Notables of the Madan family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Madan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Madan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Madan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Madan, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1809 [5]
  • Carmen Madan, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
  • J. Rafail Madan, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1894
  • Julian A. Madan, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • Mrs E.A. Madan, aged 42, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Madan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Fred Madan, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Antonio Madan, aged 49, who settled in America, in 1911
  • Katarina Madan, aged 18, who settled in America from Jalesze, Austria, in 1911
  • Maria Madan, aged 11, who landed in America, in 1913
  • Giuseppe Madan, aged 25, who landed in America from Ardara, Italy, in 1913
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Madan (post 1700) +

  • Moti Lal Madan DVM, Ph.D. (b. 1939), Indian biotechnology researcher, veterinarian, academic and administrator
  • Geoffrey Spencer Madan (1895-1947), English belletrist
  • Colonel Martin Madan (1700-1756), English groom of the bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales
  • Spencer Madan (1729-1813), English churchman, Bishop of Bristol and Peterborough
  • Judith Madan (1702-1781), English poet
  • Falconer Madan (1851-1935), English Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University
  • Martin Madan (1726-1790), English barrister, clergyman and writer, known for controversial views on marriage


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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