Feehan is a surname of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic Ó Fithcheáin or sometimes Ó Fithicháin, which denotes “descendant of Fithcheán.” The personal name Fithcheán is derived from the Irish word fithcheann, meaning “raven” or “black‑clad,” and may have originally been a nickname.
Geographic Distribution
The surname is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Connacht and Leinster, and among the Irish diaspora in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Notable Bearers
- John Feehan (born 1946), Irish author, ecologist, and priest noted for his works on Irish natural history and the environment.
- Mick Feehan (born 1958), former Irish professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs including Shamrock Rovers.
- Patrick M. Feehan (1829–1902), Irish‑American prelate who served as the second Bishop of Chicago from 1880 to 1902.
- Neil J. Feehan (born 1972), Irish‑American entrepreneur and philanthropist, co‑founder of a technology firm specializing in data analytics.
Variants and Related Names
Variants of the surname include Feahan, Feeney (though Feeney has a separate etymology), and Fegan.
Cultural and Historical Context
Surnames of the form Ó [personal name] were traditionally used in Gaelic Ireland to indicate patrilineal descent. The adoption of the Anglicized spelling “Feehan” occurred during the period of English administration in Ireland, when many Gaelic names were rendered into phonetic English equivalents.
References
- MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. Irish Academic Press, 1985.
- Hanks, Patrick; Coates, Richard; McClure, Peter (eds.). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press, 2016.
This entry summarizes the established encyclopedic information available on the surname “Feehan.”
