Show ContentsHorrigan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

While the Anglicized versions of Irish names are familiar to most people, many Irish names have a long and proud Gaelic heritage that is often unknown. The original Gaelic form of the name Horrigan is Ó hArgain.

Early Origins of the Horrigan family

The surname Horrigan 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 part of the main tribe in prehistoric times, known as the Corca Laoidhe.

Early History of the Horrigan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horrigan research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1715, 1849, 1880 and 1922 are included under the topic Early Horrigan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horrigan Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Horrigan family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Horgan, O'Horgan, Horgon, Hourigan, Horrigan, O'Hourigan, O'Horrigan, Arragan, O'Arragan, Aragan, Harrigan, O'Harrigan and many more.

Early Notables of the Horrigan family

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


United States Horrigan migration to the United States +

A massive wave of Irish immigrants hit North America during the 19th century. Although many early Irish immigrants made a carefully planned decision to leave left Ireland for the promise of free land, by the 1840s immigrants were fleeing a famine stricken land in desperation. The condition of Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s can be attributed to a rapidly expanding population and English imperial policies. Those Irish families that arrived in North America were essential to its rapid social, industrial, and economic development. Passenger and immigration lists have revealed a number of early Irish immigrants bearing the name Horrigan:

Horrigan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mary Horrigan, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1853
  • David, Ellen, John and Catherine Horrigan, who settled in New York State in 1854
  • James Horrigan, aged 17, who arrived in New York in 1854 [1]
  • Michael Horrigan, who arrived in Mississippi in 1854 [1]
  • Jeremiah Horrigan, who landed in Mississippi in 1856 [1]

Canada Horrigan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Horrigan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Tim Horrigan, aged 32, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
  • Peggy Horrigan, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
  • Ms. Bridget Horrigan, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In June 1847 [2]
  • Mrs. Ellen Horrigan, aged 60 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Francis" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In May 1847 [2]
  • Mrs. Esther Horrigan, aged 34 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Seaton" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In June 1847 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Horrigan migration to Australia +

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

Horrigan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Horrigan, (b. 1797), aged 21, Irish needle woman who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Michael Horrigan, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [4]
  • Margaret Horrigan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indian" in 1849 [5]
  • Bridget Horrigan, aged 35, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Isle of Thanet" [6]
  • Michael Horrigan, aged 31, a quarryman, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Horrigan 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:

Horrigan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Margaret Horrigan, (b. 1840), aged 26, British cook travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Horrigan (post 1700) +

  • Alfred F. Horrigan (b. 1914), American founding president of Bellarmine University
  • Jack Horrigan (1925-1973), former American Football League (AFL) Public Relations Director
  • Samuel Emmett "Sam" Horrigan (b. 1981), American actor best known for his role as Quentin Kelly on the hit ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire
  • Liam Horrigan, Irish professional rugby league footballer
  • Bryan Horrigan, Australian researcher, consultant, commentator and professional speaker

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Cornelius Horrigan (1919-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [8]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William M Horrigan, British Petty Officer Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [9]
  • Mr. Patrick Anthony Horrigan, British Cook (S), who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [9]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Michael Horrigan, English Greaser from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [10]
  • Master Cornelius Horrigan, English Steward's Young Assistant from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking [10]


  1. 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)
  2. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 34)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The INDIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Indian.htm
  6. South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Isle of Thanet 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/isleofthanet1854.shtml
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  9. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  10. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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