Geoghegan History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe original Gaelic form of the Geoghegan surname is Mag Eochagain, a patronymic derived from the personal name Eochaidh. Early Origins of the Geoghegan familyThe surname Geoghegan was first found in the county of Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, in the barony of Moycashel at Kilbeggan where they held a family seat from ancient times. Traditionally, the Geoghegans are said to descend from Fiacha, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Early History of the Geoghegan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geoghegan research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1186, 1291, 1580, 1600, 1603, 1650, 1689, 1702, 1749, 1763 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Geoghegan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Geoghegan Spelling VariationsNames written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Geoghegan that are preserved in documents of the family history are Geoghegan, Gagahan, Gahagan, Gahaghan, Gaghan, Gegan, MacGeoghegan, Geohan and many more. Early Notables of the Geoghegan familyProminent amongst the family at this time was
Geoghegan RankingIn the United States, the name Geoghegan is the 12,840th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Geoghegan: Geoghegan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Geoghegan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Geoghegan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Geoghegan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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