Show ContentsConaghyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Conaghyn surname comes from a proud and ancient past. The name Conaghyn appeared originally in Gaelic as Ó Connachtain. 1

Early Origins of the Conaghyn family

The surname Conaghyn was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Conaghyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Conaghyn research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Conaghyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conaghyn Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Conaghyn were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Cunigan, Conigan, Cunnigan, Conaghan, Conaughan, O'Cunigan, O'Conaghan, Connaghan, Connaughan, Kinneghan, Kinnegan and many more.

Early Notables of the Conaghyn family

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

Migration of the Conaghyn family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Conaghyn family relocated to North American shores quite early: Bernard, Hugh, James, and Michael Conaghan, Cornelius, Edward, Hugh, and William Conahan, Cormack and John Connaghan, Patrick Connahan, and Henry Coninghan, arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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