Rónán, anglicised as Ronan, is an Irish and Breton male given name and surname. In modern sources, it is traditionally derived from rón, the Irish word for ' seal'.
The name Ronan come from the Irish surname O'Ruadháin, where the popular name Ryan arises. [1] [2] It is also from the personal name Ruadhán, meaning 'little red one', thus bringing names such as Roan, Rowan and Roy. [3] [4]
The name Roy, also derives from O'Ruadhain, but is even derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Ruaidh, and Mac Fhearadhaigh hence the surname Gilroy, McHenry and King. [5]
Like Ryan, it may also be associated with the German name Rein, where personal names such as Ronald, and Reginald derive from. [6]
In Irish Mythology, the name is derived from a very old legend, which tells the story of a mother seal who is warned never to stray too closely to the land. When the seal is swept ashore by a huge wave, she becomes trapped in a human form, known as a " Selkie" or "seal maiden". Although she lives as the wife of a fisherman and bears him children, known as "ronans" or "little seals", she never quite loses her "sea-longing". Eventually she finds the "seal-skin" which the fisherman has hidden and slips back into the ocean. However, she cannot forget her husband and children and can be seen swimming close to the shore, keeping a watchful and loving eye on them. [7]
There are twelve Irish saints bearing the name of Ronan commemorated in the Martyrology of Donegal: [8] These include:
The name appears in an ogham inscription documented by the Ogham in 3D project [10] as ᚏᚑᚅᚐᚅᚅ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚑᚋᚑᚌᚐᚅᚅ (transliteration: RO/NA/NN MAQ COMOGANN) or, Rónán, son of Comgán. [11]
Rónán, anglicised as Ronan, is an Irish and Breton male given name and surname. In modern sources, it is traditionally derived from rón, the Irish word for ' seal'.
The name Ronan come from the Irish surname O'Ruadháin, where the popular name Ryan arises. [1] [2] It is also from the personal name Ruadhán, meaning 'little red one', thus bringing names such as Roan, Rowan and Roy. [3] [4]
The name Roy, also derives from O'Ruadhain, but is even derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Ruaidh, and Mac Fhearadhaigh hence the surname Gilroy, McHenry and King. [5]
Like Ryan, it may also be associated with the German name Rein, where personal names such as Ronald, and Reginald derive from. [6]
In Irish Mythology, the name is derived from a very old legend, which tells the story of a mother seal who is warned never to stray too closely to the land. When the seal is swept ashore by a huge wave, she becomes trapped in a human form, known as a " Selkie" or "seal maiden". Although she lives as the wife of a fisherman and bears him children, known as "ronans" or "little seals", she never quite loses her "sea-longing". Eventually she finds the "seal-skin" which the fisherman has hidden and slips back into the ocean. However, she cannot forget her husband and children and can be seen swimming close to the shore, keeping a watchful and loving eye on them. [7]
There are twelve Irish saints bearing the name of Ronan commemorated in the Martyrology of Donegal: [8] These include:
The name appears in an ogham inscription documented by the Ogham in 3D project [10] as ᚏᚑᚅᚐᚅᚅ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚑᚋᚑᚌᚐᚅᚅ (transliteration: RO/NA/NN MAQ COMOGANN) or, Rónán, son of Comgán. [11]