Freehan Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

When the Strongbownians began to settle in Ireland, they initially ignored the established Gaelic system for developing of patronymic names and solely relied on their own traditional naming practices. Eventually, however, the two differing customs drew upon one another to some degree. The Strongbow settlers, unlike their Gaelic neighbors, frequently used nickname surnames. These Anglo-Norman nicknames were frequently of two types: "oath names" and "imperative names." Oath names often carried blessings or were formed from habitual expressions. Imperative names, formed from a verb added to a noun or an adverb, metaphorically described the bearer's occupations. The nick name surname Freehan is derived from a nickname for a free-born man. The surname Freehan is derived from the Old English words "freomann" and "frigmann," which both mean freeman. The surname Freehan is also used as an Anglicized version of Mac an tSaoir, which means son of the craftsman.

Early Origins of the Freehan family

The surname Freehan was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Freehan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freehan research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1172, 1296, 1301, 1690 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Freehan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freehan Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes often simply spelled names as they sounded. As a result, a single person's name may have been recorded a dozen different ways during his lifetime. Spelling variations for the name Freehan include: Freeman, Freman and others.

Early Notables of the Freehan family

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

Migration of the Freehan family

Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Freehan: Ralph Freeman who settled in Virginia in 1622; along with Thomas, Bennett, Bridget, Francis, James, Jane, Richard, Thomas, and William Freeman, who all settled in Virginia between 1630 and 1670.

Contemporary Notables of the name Freehan (post 1700) +

William Ashley "Bill" Freehan (1941-2021), American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers