# Flanagan (surname)

Flanagan is a common surname of Irish origin and an Anglicised version of the Irish name Ó Flannagáin which is derived from the word "flann" meaning 'red' or 'ruddy'.

## Origin

Flanagan is just one variation on the original surname which, according to the 19th century writer Reverend Patrick Woulfe, is:
   "...the name of at least five distinct families in different parts of Ireland:
   * of Fermanagh, a branch of the Oirghialla, who were chiefs of Tuathratha, now anglicised Toorah, an extensive district in the barony of Magheraboy, in the northwest of County Fermanagh, and are still numerous in Ulster and County Mayo;
   * of Roscommon, a branch of the Sil-Murry and of the same stock as the O'Connors, who were hereditary stewards to the kings of Connacht and chiefs of Clann Chathail, a district which embraced several parishes in the neighbourhood of Elphin;
   * of Westmeath who were anciently lords of Comair and sometimes of all Teffia;
   * of Ely O'Carroll in present-day County Offaly, who are of the same stock as the O'Carrolls, and were chiefs of Cinel Arga, a district nearly, if not exactly, co-extensive with the present barony of Ballybrit; and
   * of Waterford, who were formerly chiefs of Uachtartire, now the barony of Upperthird, in the north-west of County Waterford, but were dispossessed by the Powers soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion."
Other variations include Flanagin, Flanigan, Flannigan, Flannaghan, Flannagain, Flaniken, Flenigen and so on. The main reason for this variety is the 'Anglicisation' of many Irish place and fore/surnames as a consequence of the colonisation of Ireland (particularly from the 16th century onward) and the subsequent imposition of the English language. With some exceptions all of these variations may be prefixed with Ó (O') - signifying 'son of' or 'Nic' signifying 'daughter of'.

## Prevalence

As many Irish migrated during the 19th and 20th centuries (especially in the period 1845–1851 to escape the 'Great Famine') the surname can be found in all major English-speaking countries of the world today. Flanagan is the 69th most common name surname in Ireland, 591st most common in Australia, 791st most common in England and the 1,102nd most common in the USA.

## Other Information

Since the late 19th century the Flanagan name is alleged to have both a crest/coat of arms and 'Family motto' associated with it. According to O'Hart's "Irish Pedigrees", Burke's "General Armory," and Fairbairn's "Book of Crests" these include:
Most commonly: ARMS/CREST: "A mount in base vert an oak tree proper a bordure of the second. A dexter cubit arm in armour proper garnished or and gules holding a flaming sword azure pommel and hilt or." (An oak tree in leaf growing from a small green mound on a gold coloured shield surrounded by a border of green. The crest is a right forearm clad in armour of natural colour garnished with gold and red. The hand holds a flaming sword with a blue blade and a handle, guard and pommel in gold.
MOTTO: "Certavi et vici" ('I have fought and conquered')
Alternatively (Burke): Flanagan (Drumdoe, co. Roscommon). ARMS/CREST: Ar. on a chev. gu. two lions ramp. or. Crest — A hand holding a dagger.
MOTTO: "Audaces fortuna juvat" ('Fortune favours the bold')

## People

* Alex Flanagan, sportscaster
* Anna Flanagan, player Australian field hockey team
* Anthony Flanagan, British actor
* Barry Flanagan, a Welsh sculptor
* Bernard Joseph Flanagan, an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
* Bob Flanagan, American writer and performance artist
* Bud Flanagan, English entertainer
* Caitlin Flanagan, writer
* Caroline Flanagan, President of Law Society of Scotland
* Charles Flanagan, politician
* Crista Flanagan, comedian, actress
* David 'Dai' Flanagan, rugby union player
* Dan Flanagan, American judge
* De Witt C. Flanagan, an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey
* Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town
* Ed Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Fionnula Flanagan, actress
* Fred Flanagan (1924–2013), Australian rules footballer
* Gaynor Flanagan (1933–1999), Australian basketball player
* Guy Flanagan, British actor
* Hallie Flanagan, theatre director, producer
* Harley Flanagan, musician
* Helen Flanagan, actress
* Ian Flanagan, tennis player
* Jack Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Sir Jamie Flanagan, former Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
* John Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jon Flanagan, footballer
* Kitty Flanagan, Australian comedian
* Kyle Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Lauren Flanigan, an American operatic soprano
* Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, Irish politician, MEP
* Maile Flanagan, American actress
* Markus Flanagan, American actor
* Martin Flanagan (journalist), journalist
* Mary Flanagan, American artist, author, educator, and designer
* Matt Flanagan (American football) (born 1995), American football player
* Michael Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Micky Flanagan, comedian
* Mike Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nick Flanagan, Australian golfer
* Nick Flanagan, Irish LGBT+ Activist
* Oliver J. Flanagan, Irish politician
* Owen Flanagan, philosopher
* Patrick Flanagan, inventor
* Paddy Flanagan, cyclist
* Pauline Flanagan, actress
* Peter Flanagan, an English rugby league footballer
* Peter Flanagan (rugby union), Irish-Australian rugby union player
* Ralph Flanagan, a big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for orchestras
* Ralph Flanagan (swimmer), an American competition swimmer
* Richard Flanagan, author, historian, film director
* Roderick Flanagan, journalist, poet, historian
* Sir Ronnie Flanagan, former Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and last Chief Constable of the RUC
* Seán Flanagan, politician
* Seán Flanagan, Irish comedian
* Shalane Flanagan, middle-distance runner
* Shane Flanagan, Australian rugby league football coach
* Steamer Flanagan, baseball player
* Terence Flanagan, an Irish politician
* Terry Flanagan (disambiguation)
* Thomas Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Tom Flanagan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Tommy Flanagan (actor)
* Tommy Flanagan (musician), jazz pianist
* Vester Flanagan, American news reporter and perpetrator of the Murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward
* Walt Flanagan, a comic book store manager, reality television personality, podcaster, comic book artist, and songwriter