Show ContentsBranigin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of Branigin was O Branagain, derived from bran, which means raven.

Early Origins of the Branigin family

The surname Branigin was first found in the counties of Armagh and Monaghan (Irish: Muineachán) located in the Northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Ulster, and were a part of the Cenel Eoghain (Clann Owen) one of the important septs (clanns) who are descended from Eoghan (Owen) son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, perhaps the greatest of all Irish General Kings whose history makes King Arthur's romances pale.

Early History of the Branigin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Branigin research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1610 is included under the topic Early Branigin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Branigin Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Branigin that are preserved in archival documents are Branagan, Branigan, Brangan, Brangen, Branghan, Branikan, Brankin, Brannagan, Brannahan, Brannaghan, Brannaghin, Brannigan, Braendigan, Brandigan, O'Branagan and many more.

Early Notables of the Branigin family

More information is included under the topic Early Branigin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Branigin family

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Branigin to North America: Felix, Francis, James, John, Lawrence, Michael, Patrick, and Thomas Branagan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1834 and 1870; John Branagan settled in Charleston in 1796.


Contemporary Notables of the name Branigin (post 1700) +

  • Roger Douglas Branigin (1902-1975), the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana
  • Roger Douglas Branigin (1902-1975), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1964; Governor of Indiana, 1965-69; Candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1968 [1]


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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