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Nugent History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Nugent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman names that arrived in Ireland in the wake of the 12th century invasion by Richard "Strongbow" de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The surname Nugent belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Originally, these place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. The name of the Nugent family comes from one of the many places called Nogent in France. The Gaelic form of the surname Nugent is Nuinseann.

Early Origins of the Nugent family

The surname Nugent was first found in county Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where they held a family seat after 1172.

Early History of the Nugent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nugent research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1213, 1486, 1544, 1583, 1602, 1607, 1621, 1642, 1669, 1671, 1680, 1684, 1714, 1715, 1752 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Nugent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nugent Spelling Variations

Since church officials and medieval scribes spelt each name as it sounded to them; as a result, a single person could accumulate many different versions of his name within official records. A close examination of the origins of the name Nugent revealed the following spelling variations: Nugent, Nogent, Newgent, Neugent, Newgant, Newgeant, Nuegent, Nougent, Newjeant, Nujent, Noigent, Nuigent, Nuijent, Nushend, Newshent, Newshand, Neushant and many more.

Early Notables of the Nugent family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Sir Christopher Nugent, 6th Baron Delvin (1544-1602), an Irish nobleman and writer who was arrested on suspicion of treason against Queen Elizabeth I of England
Richard Nugent, 1st Earl Of Westmeath (1583-1642), an Irish nobleman and politician, imprisoned for plotting against the Crown in 1607, but was later pardoned and thereafter a reliable supporter of th...
Christopher Nugent, Lord Delvin (died before 1680)
Richard Nugent, 3rd Earl of Westmeath, (c. 1669-1714)
Thomas Nugent (died 1715), an Irish Roman Catholic barrister and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland under James II
Thomas Nugent, 4th Earl of Westmeath (1669-1752), an Irish soldier and peer

Nugent World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nugent is the 2,233^rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Nugent is ranked the 513^rd most popular surname with an estimated 90 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Nugent is the 892^nd popular surname with an estimated 4,409 people with that name. 3

Nugent migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Nugent:

Nugent Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Nugent who settled in Virginia in 1638

Nugent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Arthur, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Hugh, Henry, Isabella, Jane, John, Margaret, Martin, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Richard, Robert, Terence, Thomas, and William Nugent, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Nugent migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nugent Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Nugent, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Margaret Nugent, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary Jane Nugent, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
William Nugent, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
Michael Nugent, aged 11, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nugent migration to Australia +

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

Nugent Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Nugent who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mr. Patrick Nugent, (b. 1819), aged 17, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. Michael Nugent, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Thomas Nugent, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "China" on 143rd January 1846, arriving in Norfolk Island, Australia 7
Walter A. Nugent, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orator" in 1849 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nugent 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:

Nugent Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Nugent, aged 26, a carpenter, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
Elizabeth Nugent, aged 21, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
Michael Nugent, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
John Nugent, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rob Roy" in 1865
Margaret Nugent, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Asterope" in 1867
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nugent (post 1700) +

James Edward "Jim" Nugent (1922-2016), American politician, Texas Railroad Commissioner (1979-1995)
William Nugent, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 77th District, 1974 9
William Nugent, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 22nd District, 1908, 1910; Candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 3rd District, 1912 9
Thomas Nugent, American Republican politician, Chair of Daviess County Republican Party, 1905 9
Peter Roe Nugent, American politician, Mayor of Savannah, Georgia, 1945-47 9
Robert Nugent, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2004 9
Patrick Nugent, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 23rd District, 1935 9
Michael J. Nugent, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 6th District, 1994 9
Maybelle Nugent, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1944 9
M. J. Nugent, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona Territory, 1892 9
... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Nugent family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. William James Christopher Nugent (d. 1914), British Bedroom Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 10

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Cyril James Nugent (1920-1941), Australian Stoker from Warragul, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 11

HMS Hood

Mr. William J Nugent (b. 1919), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 5th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/china
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ORATOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Orator.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm