Surname Igoe - Meaning and Origin
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Igoe: What does the surname Igoe mean?
The last name Igoe is of Irish origin. Igoe is believed to be derived from the Gaelic patronymic surname Ó hUigínn, which can be translated as ‘descendent of Uigínn’. Uigínn was the name of an old Norwegian tribal chief who fled to Ireland following Viking invasions. The name Igoe is today most commonly found in the south of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Cork, Waterford, and Wexford. It was brought to North America by immigrant members of the Igoe family in the late 1800s.
As a surname, Igoe is believed to mean ‘offspring of the brave one’. This can be seen as a reference to Uigínn, as the brave chief, who is remembered in the family name. Some families also claim that the name is a variant of the Latin word vogius, meaning ‘hawk-like’, although there is no direct connection to support this claim.
Igoe is a relatively uncommon name nowadays, but in the past, it belonged to a well-respected and influential family. They made their mark in religious and political life in Ireland and around the world. Indeed, many Igoes were devotedly active in the cause of Catholic emancipation and nationalist movements on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, the Igoe name enjoys a proud legacy of courage and leadership.
Order DNA origin analysisIgoe: Where does the name Igoe come from?
The last name Igoe is an Irish surname first found in County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. It is predominantly found in the provinces of Connacht and Munster. Today, Igoe is still a relatively common Irish surname in those areas, particularly in County Limerick. It is also relatively common in Galway and Mayo, though a few families are known to have immigrated to the United States and Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the U.S., Igoes are primarily concentrated in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) and parts of Massachusetts and New York, likely due to immigration patterns of the 19th century. Many of the original Igoes in those areas worked as miners, fishermen, and farmers.
In Canada, Igoe is most commonly found in British Columbia, the Atlantic provinces, and the province of Quebec, with the majority of Igoes clustered in the Greater Toronto Area.
Despite emigration to other parts of the world, the last name Igoe remains common in Ireland in the northwest, particularly in County Sligo. Overall, Igoe continues to be a relatively common Irish surname in both Ireland and the diaspora.
Variations of the surname Igoe
The surname Igoe can have a number of different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of Igoe include Igo, Igou, and Igoe. These spellings are mostly found in Ireland, where the name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodhagain, which is made up of the elements mac, meaning “son of”, and Aodhagáin, a personal name derived from the elements aodh, meaning “fire”, and gain, possibly denoting a light-haired person.
Spelling variations for Igoe can include Igau, Igou, Igoa, Igoe, Igai, Igo, Igoi, Igeo, Igox, Iggo, Iggoe, Igho, Igoue, Igoae, Igooe, Iggow, and Iggle. These variants of the surname Igoe are also mostly found in Ireland.
Surnames of the same origin as Igoe include Aheigion, Aheigy, Heagy, Heagney, Heagney, Heagy, Heagnay, Heagny, Heigo, Heigone, Heigou, Heigy, Heigyn, heigyne. These surnames are names derived from Gaelic and Norman origins, as well as many Irish surnames.
In conclusion, there are a number of different variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of the surname Igoe. These variations can be found mostly in Ireland, and they are derived from Gaelic, Norman, and Irish origins.
Famous people with the name Igoe
- Jim Igoe: is an American bluegrass drummer from Pennsylvania. He is a member of The Grascals, an American bluegrass band, as well as other bands.
- Joe Igoe: is an American rock vibraphonist. He is known for his collaborations with guitarist/composer Bill Frisell.
- Fred Igoe: is an American steel-guitarist, and the father of contemporary jazz vibraphonist Joe Igoe.
- Joe Igoe Sr.: an Irish-American woodworker and father of vibraphonist Joe Igoe. He collaborated with his son on various projects, including custom furniture pieces.
- Nicky Igoe: an English drummer and music producer. He is best known for his collaboration with several high-profile musicians like the British rock band Elton John, Stereophonics and Mike Rutherford of Genesis.
- Miles Igoe: an American jazz player and composer, well known for his contributions to the big band and jazz orchestras of the 1940s and 1950s.
- Kathryn Igoe: is a jazz-pop vocalist. She released her first CD in 2006, called "The Articulate Act".
- Gerard Igoe: is an Irish actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in The It Crowd, The OA, and most recently in the Netflix series “The Kominsky Method”.
- Patrick Igoe: is a professional Irish dancer who was part of the Revived Traditions (folk) initiative of the Riverdance Tour.
- Joe Igoe Jr.: is a jazz vibraphonist and the son of Fred Igoe and Joe Igoe Sr. He has performed with the likes of Bill Frisell, and had released 6 albums as a band leader.