ABBAn

Abban, also spelled Abbán, is a name of Irish origin used as a given name and, less commonly, as a surname. In medieval Irish hagiography the name is associated with a saint known as Abbán moccu Pátraic, a figure credited with founding or supporting several early monastic communities in Ireland. Through his cult, the name became established in various Irish religious sites and in monastic traditions; several churches or parishes in Ireland have claimed connections to Saint Abbán.

In modern usage, Abban/Abbán remains primarily a historical or ecclesiastical name. It is most commonly encountered as a male given name among people of Irish heritage, with Abbán being the Gaelic spelling and Abban the form often used in Anglicized contexts. The spelling without diacritics is more common outside Ireland. The surname Abban is rare but occurs in some families of Irish descent and in diaspora communities.

Etymology is not definitively established. The name is generally linked to Gaelic religious vocabulary associated with monastic life or church leadership, and it may reflect early Christian naming practices in Ireland. Variants and related names include Abbán, Abban, and other Gaelic forms that have appeared in medieval records and later genealogies.