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![Show Contents]() O'Fagen Surname History
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
The surname O'Fagen is derived from the Gaelic "O Faodhagain," which in turn comes from the Latin word "paganus," which refers to a "villager" or "peasant." Early Origins of the O'Fagen familyThe surname O'Fagen was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they settled in early times. Early History of the O'Fagen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Fagen research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1423, 1638, 1663 and 1718 are included under the topic Early O'Fagen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Fagen Spelling VariationsIn the days before Gaelic or English gained any significant semblance of standardization, the scribes who created documents simply recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the O'Fagen family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Fagan, Faggan, Fagin, Feagan, Fegan, Feighan, Fieghan and many more. Early Notables of the O'Fagen familyMore information is included under the topic Early O'Fagen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Fagen familyMany Irish families left the English-controlled Ireland in the 19th century. Early immigrants were primarily after land and the opportunity of living a life entirely of their own fashioning. In the 1840s, this pattern of immigration changed as the Great Potato Famine struck Ireland. Hundreds of thousands left the diseased and starving island with little expectations but many hopes. By this time there was very little available land in the east, so many immigrants joined the movement for the western frontier lands, or settled in established urban centers. Irish immigrants not only made enormous contributions to the rapid development and population of North America, but they also brought with them a rich cultural heritage. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name O'Fagen: Alexander, Ambrose, Arthur, Catherine, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Thomas Fagan, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865.
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