Editing Regan

{{other uses|Regan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox surname
| name = Regan
|image=
|imagesize=
|caption=
| pronunciation =
| meaning =  From ''ri'' "sovereign, king" and the diminutive ''-in''; hence "the king's child"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.babynamesofireland.com/regan|title=Regan - Meaning of Name Regan - Pronounce Regan Irish Girl Name}}</ref><ref name=calling>{{cite web |url=http://ireland-calling.com/irish-names-regan/ |title = History of the Irish name Regan}}</ref>
| region = Ireland
| language = Irish
| variant = Riagán, Ríogáin, Ó Riagáin, Ó Ríogáin, O Regan, O'Reagan, O'Regan, Riggin, Riggins 
| footnotes = <ref>[http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Regan - origin]</ref>
}}

The family name '''Regan''', along with its cognates '''O'Regan''', '''O Regan''', '''Reagan''', and '''O'Reagan''', is an [[Anglicized]] form of the [[Irish language|Irish]] [[surname]] '''Ó Riagáin''' or '''Ó Ríogáin''', from [[Riagáin|Ua Riagáin]]. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] ''ri'' "sovereign, king" and the [[diminutive]] suffix ''-in''; thus "the king's child" or "big king".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://babynames.allparenting.com/list/Celtic_Baby_Names/Regan/details/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531041643/http://babynames.allparenting.com/list/Celtic_Baby_Names/Regan/details/ |archive-date=2012-05-31 |title=Meaning of Regan - Celtic baby name}}</ref> The name was borne by two distinct families: one seated in [[Kingdom of Meath|Meath]], the other in [[Thomond]].{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

The O'Regans of Meath were a branch of the southern [[Ui Neill]] and one of the [[four Tribes of Tara]]. Before the [[Norman invasion of Ireland|Anglo-Norman invasion]], they were lords of south [[Breagh]] and the north of present-day [[County Dublin]]. They took a leading part in the wars against the [[Danes]]. In the year 1029, [[Mathghamhain Ó Riagáin]], king of Breagh, captured the king of Dublin, [[Amhlaoibh mac Sitric|Amhlaoibh]] son of [[Sigtrygg|Sitric]], releasing him only upon payment of an enormous ransom, which included the celebrated [[Tomrair#The "ring of Tomar"|Sword of Carlus]]. The O'Regans were dispossessed soon after the invasion and dispersed through Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishsurnames.com/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?name=oregan&capname=O%27Regan&letter=r|title=O%27Regan Coat of Arms, Family Crest - Free Image to View - O%27Regan Name Origin History and Meaning of Symbols}}</ref>

The O'Regans of Thomond are a [[Dalcassian]] family said to be descended from [[Riagán]], son of [[Donncuan]], a brother of [[Brian Boru]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/o-riagain/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085322/https://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/o-riagain/ |archive-date=2018-05-07 |title=Sloinne}}</ref>

The unisex forename '''[[Regan (given name)|Regan]]''' is likely to have derived sometime later from the [[Classical Latin|Latin]] ''[[Regina (name)|Regina]]'' "queen", the feminine form of ''Rex'' (stem ''reg-'') "king", which is also the source of the name ''Reginald''.<ref name=calling/>

==Persons with the surname==
* [[Ash Regan]] (born 1974), Scottish politician
* [[Bill Regan (disambiguation)]], several people 
* [[Bob Regan]] (born 1947), American country music songwriter
* [[Brian Regan (disambiguation)]], several people
* [[Bridget Regan]] (born 1982), American actress
* [[Charles Tate Regan]] (1878–1943), British ichthyologist
* [[Charlotte Regan]], British director of 2023 film ''[[Scrapper (2023 film)|Scrapper]]''
* [[Daithí Regan]] (born 1968), Irish hurler
* [[David M. Regan]] (born 1935), Canadian psychologist
* [[Donald Regan]] (1918–2003), U.S. Treasury Secretary and Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan
* [[Edward Regan]] (1930–2014), American politician and government bureaucrat
* [[Erin Regan]] (born 1980), retired American soccer player
* [[Eugene Regan]] (born 1952), Irish barrister and politician
* [[Fionn Regan]] (born 1981), Irish folk musician
* [[Frank S. Regan]] (1862–1944), American politician and businessman
* [[Geoff Regan]] (born 1959), Canadian politician and federal cabinet minister, son of Gerald Regan
* [[Gerald Regan]] (1928–2019), 19th premier of Nova Scotia, father of Geoff, Laura and Nancy Regan
* [[Jack Regan]] (1912–1988), Australian rules footballer
* [[James Regan (disambiguation)]], several people 
* [[Jayne Regan]] (1909–2000), American actress
* [[Jessica Regan]] (born 1982), Irish actress
* [[Joan Regan]] (1928–2013), English singer
* [[John Regan (disambiguation)]], several people 
* [[Judith Regan]] (born 1953), book publisher
* [[Julianne Regan]] (born 1962), English singer, songwriter and musician, lead singer of the band All About Eve
* [[Kelly Regan]] (born 1961), Canadian politician, wife of Geoff Regan
* [[Kenneth M. Regan]] (1891–1959), American politician
* [[Larry Regan]] (1930–2009), Canadian National Hockey League player, coach, manager and executive
* [[Laura Regan]] (born 1977), Canadian actress, daughter of Gerald Regan
* [[Linda Regan]] (born 1949), English actress who appeared in the British TV show ''Hi-de-Hi!''
* [[Mark Regan]] (born 1972), English rugby union player
* [[Mike Regan (disambiguation)]], several people 
* [[Nancy Regan]] (born 1966), Canadian news anchor, journalist and TV personality, daughter of Gerald Regan
* [[Natasha Regan]] (born 1971), English chess player
* [[Patrick Regan (disambiguation)]], several people 
* [[Phil Regan (actor)]] (1906–1996)
* [[Phil Regan (baseball)]] (born 1937), American Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Robert P. Regan]] (1936–1995), American businessman and politician
*[[Seamus O'Regan]] (born 1971), Canadian politician and former television personality
* [[Terry Regan (rugby league)|Terry Regan]] (born 1958), Australian former rugby league footballer
* [[The Jayhawks|Tim O'Regan]], American musician
* [[Tom Regan]] (1938–2017), American philosopher, animal rights activist and academic
* [[Tony Óg Regan]] (born 1983), Irish hurler
* [[Trish Regan]] (born 1972), American broadcast journalist and author
* [[Vincent Regan]] (born 1965), British actor

==Fictional characters==
* [[Jack Regan (The Sweeney)|Jack Regan]], protagonist of the British television police drama ''The Sweeney''
* Rory Regan, real name of [[Ragman (character)|Ragman]], a DC Comics superhero
* Rusty Regan, a never-seen character in the Raymond Chandler novel ''[[The Big Sleep]]''

==See also==
* [[Reagan (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{given name|type=both}}

[[Category:Surnames of Irish origin]]
[[Category:Surnames of Scottish origin]]
[[Category:English-language surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames from given names]]