Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Flanagan” come from?

Flanagan is an English surname derived from Irish Ó Flannagáin, from Irish flann, Middle Irish flann, Proto-Celtic wlannos, and Proto-Indo-European welh₃-.

Ancestry of “Flanagan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IrishÓ Flannagáin—
2Irishflannblood-red; blood
3Middle Irishflannblood-red, crimson; blood
4Proto-Celticwlannos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₃-to hit, to strike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₃- →