Enwright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish name Enwright has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The Enwright surname is derived from the Gaelic Mac Ionnrachtaigh, derived from either the word "ionnrachtach," which means "lawful," or a form of the word "indrecht," which means "attack." 1

Early Origins of the Enwright family

The surname Enwright was first found in Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

The Ulster and Hy-Maine branch claim descent from Colla da Chrioch. 2

Early History of the Enwright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Enwright research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1107, 1172, 1583 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Enwright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Enwright Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Enwright include Enright, Enraghty, Enratty, Hanraghty, Hanratty, MacKenraght, MacEnraghty, Kenraghty, Kenratty, O'Hanraghty, O'Hanratty, O'Hanfey and many more.

Early Notables of the Enwright family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Father Patrick Hanratty, Kimracha Kinrechtin, or Makenrachtus; in Irish MacIonnrachtaig, Anglicized Hanratty and Enright, an Irish priest d. 30 April, 1585, at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. He was the son of a silversmith at Kilmallock, embraced the ecclesiastical state, studied abroad, and graduated bachelor in theology. Returning to Ireland, he became chaplain to Gerald, sixteenth Earl of Desmond, and shared the fortunes of his patron's struggle against Queen Elizabeth. In September, 1583, a fugitive with the earl, he was surprised on Sliabh Luachra by Lord Roche's gallowglasses, and handed over to the Earl...
Another 225 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Enwright Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Enwright migration to the United States +

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Enwright:

Enwright Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Cath Enwright, aged 5, who landed in New York in 1854 3
Honor Enwright, aged 10, who arrived in New York in 1854 3
Mary Enwright, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1854 3

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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)