Surname Strahan - Meaning and Origin
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Strahan: What does the surname Strahan mean?
Strahan is a surname of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Sraitháin" which means "descendant of Sraithán". The term "Sraithán" is a personal name based on the Gaelic word "srath", which translates to "a long stretch; a broad valley." Thus, the name Strahan can also generally imply someone who is from a broad valley. Surnames that originate from geographic features often signified where a family lived, which might suggest the ancestors of the Strahan lineage lived in or near a visually significant broad valley. Like many ancestral names, variations of the spelling exist depending on region and translation, which includes O'Strahan, Straghan, and Strain.
Order DNA origin analysisStrahan: Where does the name Strahan come from?
The last name Strahan is common mainly in English-speaking countries around the world. It is particularly prevalent in the United Kingdom, where it ranks 511th in the most common last names list. In the United States, Strahan is not as popular, ranking 3796th on the list. However, there are still a good number of people carrying the name – over 17,000 of them!
Interestingly, Strahan is also a popular surname in Australia. It is especially common in the states of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, where it is ranked in the top 400 last names. Moreover, Strahan appears to have been ongoing since the earliest days of the British colonization of Australia. By looking at records of the early settlers, the name can be traced all the way back to the late 1700s.
While the origins of the last name Strahan are unknown, it could be related to the old Norse name Straumr, which meant “noise”. Alternatively, it may be derived from a nickname used to describe someone from a place named Strahan, such as a hamlet in Scotland located on the River Deveron.
No matter where it comes from, the last name is still widely used in many parts of the English-speaking world today.
Variations of the surname Strahan
The surname Strahan has been known to have a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Most of the variants of Strahan can be more easily linked or deduced from its Gaelic/Irish origin, 'O' Tighearnaigh'.
The most commonly found variants of this surname are Stracan, Strachen, Straghan, Strachan and Strachin. However, many variations occur in different European countries. There have been spelling variations of the name Strahan recorded over the centuries, including Strachan, Straghan, Strachin, Stracan and Mac Strachan.
The spelling of Mac Strachan (which is an Anglicisation of the clan's original Gaelic name, Mac an tSagairt) is more distinctive and stands out from these other variants. The Mac Strachan family rose to prominence in the 1500s in Scotland and their origins can be traced back to several generations before to Ireland.
The spelling of Mac Strachan is the most popular variant of the surname today. It's also one of the oldest forms, and was used as early as the 15th century in Scotland. Other variations include: Strachan, Strahon, Straghan, Strahan, Strachen, Strachin, and Stracan.
Overall, the surname Strahan has a wide range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These range from Mac Strachan to other variants, such as Strachan, Strahon, Straghan, Strahan, Strachen, Strachin, and Stracan.
Famous people with the name Strahan
- Michael Strahan: Michael Strahan is a Hall of Fame professional football player, actor, and TV host. He is best known for his fifteen years in the NFL as a defensive end for the New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XLII in 2008. In 2018, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Joanna Strahan: Joanna Strahan is an American actress, best known for appearing on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, and Hart of Dixie. She also had roles in the television films All for One and Spooner.
- Betsy Strahan: Betsy Strahan is an American model and actress. She is known for her appearance on the show Speed Racer and for her roles in the films Another Day in Paradise and Amber's Story.
- Abigail Strahan: Abigail Strahan is an American voiceover artist and singer, having done voiceover work for advertisements, films, and shows such as The Little Mermaid, Parks and Recreation, and Phineas & Ferb.
- Luke Strahan: Luke Strahan is an Australian former field hockey player. He is best known for his appearances for the Australia men's national field hockey team from 2007 to 2011, as well as playing club field hockey in both the Netherlands and Germany.