Show ContentsBrenagh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of Brenagh was Ó Branagain, derived from bran, which means raven. 1

Early Origins of the Brenagh family

The surname Brenagh 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. 2

Early History of the Brenagh family

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

Brenagh Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Brenagh are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Branagan, Branigan, Brangan, Brangen, Branghan, Branikan, Brankin, Brannagan, Brannahan, Brannaghan, Brannaghin, Brannigan, Braendigan, Brandigan, O'Branagan and many more.

Early Notables of the Brenagh family

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

Migration of the Brenagh family

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Brenagh or a variant listed above: 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.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)


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