Show ContentsGoggin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Celtic in origin, the name Goggin came from the rugged landscape of Wales. The name's origins go back to a time when the Goggin family lived in the parish of Cogan, which is in the diocese of Llandaff in the county of Glamorgan. The name literally means "a cup or bowl" 1 and probably meant "dweller in a bowl-shaped valley." 2

Early Origins of the Goggin family

The surname Goggin was first found in Glamorganshire (Welsh: Sir Forgannwg), a region of South Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Glywysing at Cogan, a parish, in the union of Cardiff, hundred of Dinas-Powys, county of Glamorgan, South Wales. 3

"Cogan or Coggan is an ancient west of England name. There was a John de Cogan, of Hunispull, Somerset, in the reign of Edward I.; and in the reign of Richard II., William Cogan was sheriff of the county. De Cogan was a name found also in different parts of Devonshire in the time of Edward I., and it has long been an old Tiverton name." 4

Exploring Somerset in more detail, Richard Cogan was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 5 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: John de Cogan, Somerset; and John de Cogan, Devon 6

"From this it is clear that the south-west forms of the surname are derived from the Llandaff parish. To Somerset and Devon was not a long journey." 6

In Devon, Bampton was the passed from the Paganell "heiress to Sir Milo Cogan, 'the great soldier and undertaker of the Irish Conquest.' Her descendant, Richard Cogan, had licence in 1336 to castellate his mansion house at Bampton, and to empark his wood and other lands at Uffculme. Every vestige of the castle has long disappeared." 7

Scotland was home to the family about this time. "Peter Cogan witnessed the gift of an acre of land in Coldingham to the monks of St. Cuthbert, and Robert Cogan witnessed a charter of lands in Raynigton to the Priory of Coldingham, 1275. Robert Cogan del counte de Berewyk rendered homage, 1296. [(to King Edward I during his invasion of Scotland)]" 8

The name "is uncommon in the Isle of Man." 9

Early History of the Goggin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Goggin research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1230, 1233, 1278, 1545, 1591, 1593, 1605, 1607, 1684, 1686, 1716, 1723, 1731, 1780 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Goggin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goggin Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Goggin have included Cogan, Cogen, Coogan, Coogen, Coogin, Coggan, Coggen, Coggin, Coggins, Gogan, Goggin and many more.

Early Notables of the Goggin family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Thomas Cogan (1545?-1607), English physician, born about 1545 at Chard, Somersetshire. He was educated at Oxford. He practised as a physician at Manchester. Before 1686 he married Ellen, daughter of Sir Edmund...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Goggin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Goggin Ranking

In the United States, the name Goggin is the 10,353rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10

Ireland Migration of the Goggin family to Ireland

Some of the Goggin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Goggin migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Goggin were found:

Goggin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Goggin, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 11
Goggin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Goggin, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 11
  • Miles Goggin, aged 26, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 11
  • William Goggin, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1860 11
  • Cecilia Goggin, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Goggin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elizabeth M. Goggin, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Cornwall, in 1906
  • Bridget Goggin, aged 17, who settled in America from Schull, Ireland, in 1908
  • Edmond Lawrence Goggin, aged 20, who landed in America from Colchester, England, in 1909
  • Cornelis Goggin, aged 52, who settled in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1910
  • Daniel Goggin, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Millstreet, Ireland, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Goggin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Goggin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Goggin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1831
  • John Goggin, aged 28, a smith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Norry Goggin, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Kitty Goggin, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Mary Goggin, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Goggin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Goggin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Goggin, (b. 1803), aged 35, Irish labourer who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12

New Zealand Goggin migration to New Zealand +

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:

Goggin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Goggin, (b. 1841), aged 21, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Goggin (post 1700) +

  • John Mann Goggin (1916-1963), American cultural anthropologist
  • William Leftwich Goggin (1807-1870), American politician and lawyer from Virginia
  • Charles "Chuck" Francis Goggin (b. 1945), American retired Major League Baseball utility player
  • Dan Goggin (b. 1943), American writer, composer, and lyricist for musical theatre
  • Juanita W. Goggin (1935-2010), the first African-American woman elected to the South Carolina legislature
  • Willie Goggin (b. 1907), American professional golfer
  • Walton Sanders Goggin Jr. (b. 1971), American actor
  • R. J. Goggin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1940 14
  • George T. Goggin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1960, 1964 14
  • Dennis Goggin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Idaho, 1952 14
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Goggin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Constans fidei
Motto Translation: Constant to honor.


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales. Institute of Historical Research, 1849, Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  12. Convict Records Australia. Retrieved on 18th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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