The Irish surname Nunan  is of patronymic origin  and is very numerous: mainly Munster and South East. The name Nunan in Gaelic, Ó Nuanáin, a corruption of  Ó h-Ionmhaineáin from ionmhain,  meaning “dear or beloved”. A sept or clan of  North County Cork, now numerous in  county Limerick. Today there are 530 bearers of the name Nunan living in the United States.