Gender Masculine

Meaning & History

From Old Irish Gobbán, derived from gobae "smith" and a diminutive suffix. It could also be a derivative of the name of the Irish smith god Goibniu (from the same root). This was the name of a few early saints, such as a 7th-century abbot of Killamery. In later folklore, the smith god and the saints seem to have conflated into the legendary figure Gobán Saor ("Gobán the builder"), a master architect and builder of churches.

Related Names

Rootgobae
Feminine FormGobnait
Other Languages & CulturesGobbán(Old Irish)

Categories

Entry updated January 21, 2022