Last Names

Surnames / L

Logan

What is the origin of the last name Logan?

Scottish originLocational (a place or landscape)Rank #492 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Logan has roots in both Scottish and Irish genealogy. Derived from the Gaelic name "Lochán," meaning "little lake" or "dweller by the small pool," it initially referred to individuals residing near bodies of water. As a surname, it was first recorded in Scotland and later emerged in Ireland during times of Scottish migration. The name Logan gained popularity as a result of the highland clan's influence and its association with various Scottish chiefs.

The longer story

The last name Logan has Scottish and Irish origins. In Scotland, it is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "laghan," meaning "little hollow" or "small meadow." This suggests an ancestral connection to a geographic location or topographical feature. The name can be traced back to the ancient region of Argyll in Scotland.

In Ireland, Logan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname "Lamghain." The exact meaning and origin of Lamghain is uncertain, but it is believed to have been derived from a personal name or a toponymic element.

The surname Logan has been popularized in the United States through immigration and migration. Scottish and Irish immigrants brought the name to America, where it has thrived and diversified. Today, Logan is a relatively common surname in the United States, with significant populations in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

Similar spellings

#492

Logan was the 492nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 67,909 people, about 23 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)64.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino3.2%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)27.3%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander0.7%
  • Two or more races2.9%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native1.1%

Surnames like Logan

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.