Brogan or O'Brogan, is a surname originating in Ireland, anglicized from the original Ó Brógáin. The form McBrogan, is also present sharing the meaning of O'Brogan, essentially "son of Brogan." The name can be traced back to Saint Brogan, Saint Patrick's nephew and scribe, and has many original meanings, including sorrowful, sharp faced, sturdy and strong.

Traditionally, Brogan has also been used as a first name for boys, after the Saint, though is sometimes used as a name for girls.

It may also be linked to 'bróg', the Irish word for shoe or boot, hence the reference to modern work shoes and boots as brogues. It is also common for someone with a heavy Irish, or Scottish accent to be described as speaking with a 'brogue', which derives from the same word.

Notable people with the name

• Alan Brogan, an Irish footballer.
• Bernard Brogan , an Irish footballer.
• Bernard Brogan , an Irish footballer.
• Colm Brogan, a Scottish journalist and political pamphleteer.
• Dean Brogan, an Australian footballer.
• Denis William Brogan, a British historian.
• Frank Brogan, an American educator and politician.
• Frank Brogan , a Scottish footballer.
• Hugh Brogan, a British historian.
• John Brogan, a Scottish footballer.
• Jim Brogan, an Irish footballer.
• Jim Brogan , an American basketball player.
• Michelle Brogan, an Australian basketball player.
• Mike Brogan, an author's pseudonym.
• Saint Brogan, an Irish saint
• Stephen Brogan, an English footballer.

Clothing

Brogan is also a term generally applied to any heavy, ankle-high shoe or boot, more specifically, any such boot worn by a soldier in at least the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. In the American revolution, the British soldiers wore brogans that were interchangeable with the left or right foot, supposedly allowing for even wear on the boots. During the civil war, the standard model of brogan worn by a soldier was the Model 1859 Jefferson, a square-toed model with four eyelets and leather laces.

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