This distinguished and long-established surname is of early medieval Irish origin, and is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "O'Ruadhachain, O'Ruadhain", descendant of Ruadh(ach)ain, a personal byname from "ruadh", red, and originally given to one with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "Mac" denoting "son of", or "O", grandson, male descendant of. The "O'Ruadh(ach)ain" sept belonged to the Munster counties of Clare and Limerick, with branches in the Connacht counties of Mayo and Sligo.
The County Clare Roughans were an ecclesiastical family connected with monasteries as far afield as Swords and Lismore. Felix O'Ruadhain (below) was of the Ui Fiachrach or Ui Maine, ancient population groups in Connacht. Seven members of this sept were bishops of Connacht dioceses in medieval times. Petty's 1659 "census" of all Ireland gives O'Roughane as a principal name in the barony of Bunratty (east Clare), and Roughane in the barony of East Carbery (County Cork). In the modern idiom the surname is variously spelt: Rohan, Rohane (Counties Cork and Kerry); Ruane (County Mayo); Rowan (all four provinces, but chiefly County Galway); and Roughan (Counties Clare and Limerick). On April 8th 1765, the marriage of Ellinor Roughan to John Launders was recorded at St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Felix O'Ruadhain, Archbishop of Tuam, County Galway, which was dated 1215, in "Records of the Irish Prelates at the Latern Council, Rome", during the reign of King John of England, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Discovering the historical roots of rohan is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname rohan is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of rohan. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname rohan is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname rohan, and in addition to the original locations of rohan, we can find out where people with the surname rohan can currently be found.
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname rohan. It is common for surnames like rohan to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname rohan provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname rohan has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The historical chronicle of rohan is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname rohan can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of rohan. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname rohan, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of rohan developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname rohan are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname rohan, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname rohan, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about rohan and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname rohan or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of rohan.
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished rohans throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all rohans who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname rohan were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like rohan can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of rohan. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname rohan. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of rohan are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname rohan, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of rohan, and at the same time, of surnames in general.