Back in 1899 my great grandfather, Thomas "Tom" Brogan established a town in Iowa called, Brogan. That brings us to the modern day, and that town is just an after thought as it was officially closed in 1976. As with many towns in rural Iowa, it was closed down as everyone moved to larger areas for work and to be around civilization. Can't blame them.
The picture above is a picture of my great grandmother, Lutie, next to the sign that went up in the location of that old town at the time. Looking at the old picture, it made me want to do some more research on my family's past and the meaning of my last name Brogan. What exactly does it mean?
The real meaning of "Brogan" comes from its Irish origin, meaning "little shoe" or "sturdy shoe" from the Gaelic word bróg. It was originally a surname, Ó Brógáin, meaning "descendant of Brógán," and can refer to a type of heavy work shoe, a sturdy shoe, or be a personal name of Irish and Gaelic origin.
So my last name in Irish means shoe. Does that mean my ancestors long ago made shoes? Perhaps. Many last names originated from the occupation of an ancestor, such as "Smith" for a blacksmith or "Miller" for a grain miller. These occupational surnames became hereditary, meaning they were passed down through generations, and are a common type of last name.
 |
| Brogan Style Shoes. A dressy high top. |
So, I'm guessing my old ancestors were not rich if they were shoemakers. So I guess I'm not the long last relative of an old King that will make me rich. Oh darn. So now, my goal in life is to make a shoe to overtake Nike, Reebok and Fila and have all the sports stars wear Brogan's. Or....... I could just head to Dublin, go to Brogan's Bar, and drink a pint. That might be easier.
Do you know what your last name means? If not, look it up. It makes for some interesting conversation at the dinner table!
 |
| Find him on X @brogan78 | on Instagram | on Facebook | or on Youtube |