Ronan
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 comes from the Irish surname O'Ruadháin, where the popular name Ryan arises. It is also from the personal name Ruadhán, meaning 'little red one', thus bringing names such as Roan, Rowan and Roy.
The name Ryan, is associated with Mac Conrían, meaning 'Rian's hound', a variant of 'Mac Conraoi'.
The name Roy, also derives from O'Ruadhain, but is even derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Ruaidh, and Mac Con Rí, hence the surname Gilroy, "Mac Fhearadhaigh" and Henry.
Like Ryan, it may also be associated with the German name Rein.
The final origin, is that it derives from the (Irish:Raghnall), anglicised as Ronald, Reginald, Randolph, and Randall.
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.
There are twelve Irish saints bearing the name of Ronan commemorated in the Martyrology of Donegal: These include:
Ronan of Locronan, a c. 6th century Irish pilgrim saint and hermit in western Brittany
Rónán Mac Bearaigh (died 665), founder of Druim Inesclainn (Drumshallon) (see Féchín of Fore).
Rónán of Ulster, brother of St. Carnech, and grandson of Loarn, died 11 January 535.
Rónán Fionn is honoured as patron of Lan Ronan (Kelminiog) in Iveagh. His feast is celebrated on 22 May, both in Ireland and Scotland.
Rónán of Iona is explicitly referred to by Bede in the controversy with his countryman St Finan of Lindisfarne, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 660. This controversy, on the calculation of the date of Easter, was ended at the Synod of Whitby, in 664, when Rónán's views were upheld. This is the saint referred to in the title of Sir Walter Scott's book, Saint Ronan's Well. Scott's St. Ronan was a Celtic monk, Bishop of Kilmaronen, who advocated the use of the Roman rather than Celtic manner. This St Rónán is also the patron saint of the Scottish town of Innerleithen. He is commemorated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church on 7 February.
Rónán of Lismore was a successor of St. Carthage, and several Munster churches were built in his honour. His feast is celebrated on 9 February 763.
Another saint of this name is best known by the ruined church of Kilronan (Irish: Cill Rónáin), Co. Roscommon, where Turlogh O'Carolan and Bishop O'Rourke are buried.
The name appears in an ogham inscription documented by the Ogham in 3D project as ᚏᚑᚅᚐᚅᚅ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚑᚋᚑᚌᚐᚅᚅ (transliteration: RO/NA/NN MAQ COMOGANN) or, Rónán, son of Comgán.
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