Phelan (surname)
Encyclopedia
Phelan is an Irish
surname, one of the two most common anglicisations (the other being Whelan
) of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin (which comes from the Irish
for "wolf"). The name is commonly seen in the south-east of Ireland, particularly counties Waterford
and Kilkenny
.
The usual pronunciation is "Fee-lan", but in some parts of Kilkenny there is also use of "Fay-lan" or even "Way-lan". This is understandable, since the name comes from the same origin as Whelan, and the Irish form itself is pronounced "Fay-lawn".
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
surname, one of the two most common anglicisations (the other being Whelan
Whelan
The family surname Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname, Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish 'Úa Faeláin' the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern county of Waterford and south county...
) of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin (which comes from the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
for "wolf"). The name is commonly seen in the south-east of Ireland, particularly counties Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
.
The usual pronunciation is "Fee-lan", but in some parts of Kilkenny there is also use of "Fay-lan" or even "Way-lan". This is understandable, since the name comes from the same origin as Whelan, and the Irish form itself is pronounced "Fay-lawn".
List of persons with the surname
- Anthony Phelan (born 1954), Australian actor
- Anita Phelan (born 1982), British folk singer
- Ann PhelanAnn PhelanAnn Phelan is an Irish Labour Party politician. She was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 2011 general election....
, Irish Labour PartyLabour Party (Ireland)The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
politician - Anne PhelanAnne PhelanAnne Mary Phelan, OAM , is a much awarded Australian actress, who has appeared prominently in Theatre, Australian television productions and soap operas, including Prisoner where she played the role of 'Top Dog' Myra Desmond and Monica Taylor in Something in the air...
(born 1944), Australian actress - Chris PhelanChris PhelanChris Phelan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a state representative versatile forward for Queensland and a two-time New South Wales Rugby League premiership-winner with the Parramatta Eels....
, Australian rugby league footballer - Edward PhelanEdward PhelanEdward Phelan, also Phalen or Felyn, was an early settler of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Phelan was born in approximately 1811 in Derry, Ireland and later became, along with John Hays and William Evans, one of the first settlers of Saint Paul. Phelan was later accused of Hays' murder, the first ever in...
(1811–1850), American settler - Edward J. PhelanEdward J. PhelanEdward Joseph Phelan , frequently E. J. Phelan, was the first appointed international civil servant and fourth Director-General of the International Labour Office, serving from 1941 to 1948, during most of which time the ILO was temporarily relocated to Montréal from Geneva...
(1888–1967), Director-General of the United Nations International Labor Office - Gerard PhelanGerard PhelanGerard Phelan is a former college football player, who lined up at wide receiver for Boston College.-Early years:Phelan played football for Archbishop John Carroll Catholic High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1981....
(contemporary), former college football player at Boston College - Jacquie PhelanJacquie PhelanJacquie "Alice B. Toeclips" Phelan was the NORBA Champion three consecutive years - 1983, 1984, and 1985.She is married to inventor Charlie Cunningham, the pioneering bicycle framebuilder whose aluminum bikes and patented brakes allowed Phelan to race unbeaten for six years...
(contemporary), American mountain biker - James Phelan, Sr.James Phelan, Sr.James Phelan, Sr., was a senator in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War from the state of Mississippi.-Biography:...
(1821–1873), American politician; senator in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War - James Phelan, Jr.James Phelan, Jr.James Phelan, Jr. was a United States Congressman from Tennessee.-Biography:...
(1856–1891), American politician; U.S. Senator from Tennessee - James Clancy PhelanJames Clancy PhelanJames Clancy Phelan is an Australian author, published as James Phelan. His first fiction novel, Fox Hunt, went into reprint in its first month.-Biography:Phelan was born in Victoria, Australia...
(born 1979), Australian author - James PhelanJames Phelan (football)James Michael Phelan was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Missouri , Purdue University , the University of Washington , and Saint Mary's College of California , compiling a career college football record of...
(fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
early 20th c.), American college football coach - James D. PhelanJames D. PhelanJames Duval Phelan was an American politician, civic leader and banker.-Early years:Phelan was born in San Francisco, the son of an Irish immigrant who became wealthy during the California Gold Rush as a trader, merchant and banker. He graduated from St...
(1861–1930), American politician and banker; U.S. Senator from California - Jim PhelanJim PhelanJim Phelan was a collegiate basketball coach for Mount Saint Mary's University. Jim was a 1951 graduate of La Salle University and played one season for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. He was famous for wearing a bow tie on the sidelines.-Coaching career:Jim coached his entire career at...
(born 1929), American college basketball coach - John J. PhelanJohn J. PhelanJohn J. Phelan was the second Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1886 to 1897. He was also the Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1893 to 1895.Phelan was not a founding member of the Knights. He joined the group in 1885...
(fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
19th c.), American politician; Secretary of the State of ConnecticutSecretary of the State of ConnecticutThe Secretary of the State of Connecticut is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is an elected position in the state government and has a term length of four years....
1893–1895 - John Paul PhelanJohn Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 2011 general election. He was elected in 2002 to Seanad Éireann by the Agricultural Panel, and was re-elected in 2007...
(born 1978), member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann for Fine Gael - Jon W. Phelan, Irish Philosopher, author of 'Philosophy: Themes And Thinkers' and teacher of philosophy at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, UK.
- Kieran PhelanKieran PhelanKieran Phelan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and member of Seanad Éireann on the Industrial and Commercial Panel....
(born 1949), Irish politician and member of the Seanad Éireann for Fianna Fáil - L.A.M. PhelanL.A.M. PhelanL.A.M. Phelan was an American businessman and inventor. He is known mainly as inventor of the broaster equipment and method for pressure-cooking chicken, and founder of the Broaster Company.- Biography :...
, (late 19th c. - ?), American businessman and inventor, founded Broaster company - Matthew J. Phelan (1927-2011), American businessman, "Mr. Annual Report"
- Michael Phelan (born 1968), American artist
- Michael D. Phelan (contemporary), chairman of The Tablet and Priests & People
- Michael L. PhelanMichael L. PhelanMichael Lawlor Phelan is a judge of the Federal Court of Canada.-Career:Phelan was educated at Loyola College in Montreal and Dalhousie University Law School . He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1973...
(born 1947), Canadian judge of the Federal Court of Canada - Mike PhelanMike PhelanMichael Christopher "Mike" Phelan , also known as Mick Phelan or Micky Phelan, is an English football coach, former player, and current assistant manager of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson....
(born 1962), English footballer - Nancy PhelanNancy PhelanNancy Phelan was an Australian writer who published over 25 books, including novels, biographies, memoirs, travel books and a cookbook...
(born 1913), Australian writer - Paddy PhelanPaddy PhelanPaddy Phelan was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tullaroan and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1930s. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:...
(fl. 20th c.), Irish hurler - Patricia Phelan (contemporary), Zen priestess
- Patrick PhelanPatrick Phelan (priest)Patrick Phelan, was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, Sulpician, and Bishop of Kingston briefly in 1857....
(1795–1857), Irish-Canadian priest - Patrick PhelanPatrick Phelan (composer)Patrick "Pat" Phelan , is a respected veteran video game audio composer, manager, and producer.-Background:At the age of 11, Phelan's parents presented him with a Commodore VIC-20. He learnt how to programme and began to write games...
(born 1970), video game audio composer, manager, and producer - Patrick Phelan (born 1985), American professional soccer player
- Ryan PhelanRyan PhelanRyan Phelan is an Australian television presenter best known as the main host of Network Ten's Sports Tonight.-Career:He was born in Ayr, Queensland and moved to Brisbane when he was 6 years old. He always had an interest in English and Drama while growing up but it was not until he was 15 that...
(born 1975), Australian television presenter - Richard PhelanRichard PhelanRichard Phelan, D.D. was the fourth Roman Catholic Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.- Background :...
(1825–1904), Roman Catholic bishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. - Santiago PhelanSantiago PhelanSantiago Phelan is a retired Argentine rugby union footballer. His usual position was flanker....
(born 1974), Argentine rugby union player and coach - Sandra Phelan (born 1973), Australian outstanding teacher
- Scott PhelanScott PhelanScott Phelan is an English footballer who plays for Kidderminster Harriers as a midfielder. He plays for Kidderminster Harriers having previously played in The Football League with Bradford City.-Playing career:...
(born 1988), English football player - Shaun James Phelan (born 1981), MathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, IMA John Henry McDonnell Prize Winner - Terry PhelanTerry PhelanTerrence "Terry" Phelan is a former footballer who played as a left-back for a number of clubs, including Leeds United, Swansea City, Wimbledon, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Fulham...
(born 1967), Irish professional football player
Fictional characters
- Andrea PhelanAndrea PhelanAndrea Phelan is a Correctional Officer on the HBO drama Oz, played by Pepa. Primarily assigned to Unit B, she is one of the few African American female officers with a recurring role. It can be assumed through watching Seasons 4 and 5 that she was the supervising CO of Unit B....
, correctional officer on the HBO television show Oz - Daniel Phelan, judge on the HBO television show The WireThe WIREthe WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
- Jake McGinley Fakadeefakfak Cunnit Arseole Shetbarg Phlemface Phelan, mental asylum inmate on the Bangladesh television show Monkey Dance 2
- Francis PhelanFrancis PhelanFrancis Phelan is a fictional character in many of William J. Kennedy’s Albany novels, though he is featured most prominently in Ironweed. He is a former professional baseball player who left Albany in shame after dropping his infant son Gerald...
, character in many of William Kennedy’s Albany novels - Phelan, leader of the black market in a Season 2 episode of the re-imagined Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
- Sam Phelan, crooked cop from the first season of the television series SmallvilleSmallvilleSmallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...