The name Cogan comes from Milo de Cogan, who was one of the
original Norman invaders of Ireland and the right-hand man of
the leader Strongbow. As a reward for his service, de Cogan was
given large tracts of land in Cork. However, he never gained
full control of the lands and was eventually killed by Celts in
1182. As a result, the name had various incarnations in latter
years, from Gogan and Goggin to Coogan. Cogan is still prominent
in areas of County Cork today. Award-winning Irish author and
historian Tim Pat Coogan has written extensively on Irish
history, including a biography of Michael Collins and "Wherever
Green is Worn: The Story of the Irish Diaspora."