| ![Show Contents]() Grennan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Norman name Grennan was originally used for a person who was a person who had a moustache. The name was originally derived from Old English words gernon or grenon, which meant moustache. Early Origins of the Grennan familyThe surname Grennan was first found in Montfiquet, in the district of Bayeux. Robert de Guernon accompanied the William the Conqueror at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Robert held estates in Herefordshire, Suffolk, and a great barony in Essex. Another early notable of the family was Ranulf II (also known as Ranulf de Gernon) (1099-1153), a Norman-born, potentate who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester. He claimed descent from the Counts of Bessin in Normandy. Thoydon-Garnon in Essex was and ancient homestead of the family. "The parish takes the adjunct to its name from the family of Gernon, who were anciently its proprietors." 1 Great and Little Birch in Essex was an ancient family seat. "Birch Castle was fortified against Henry III. by Sir Ralph Gernon, then lord of the manor: there are still some remains." 1 Early History of the Grennan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grennan research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1170 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Grennan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Grennan Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Garnon, Garnons, Gernan, Gernon, Gernen, Garnham and many more. Early Notables of the Grennan familyMore information is included under the topic Early Grennan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Grennan family to Ireland
Some of the Grennan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Grennan migration to the United States | + |
Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Grennan name or one of its variants:
Grennan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Benjamin Grennan, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1897
Grennan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Edward Grennan, aged 27, who landed in America from Clara, Ireland, in 1908
- Ellen Grennan, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Kilkelly, Ireland, in 1909
- Catherine Grennan, aged 19, who landed in America from Ballaghaderreen, Ireland, in 1909
- Andrew Grennan, aged 20, who immigrated to America from Carleston, England., in 1910
- Annie Maria Grennan, aged 20, who landed in America from Tullamore, Ireland, in 1911
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Grennan 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: Grennan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Rose Grennan, aged 31, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Grennan (post 1700) | + |
- Keith Grennan (b. 1984), former American football defensive end who played from 2007 to 2011
- Justin Grennan, American singer, best known for his appearance on NBC's The Voice
- David Grennan, Irish amateur astronomer from Raheny, Dublin who in 2010, became the first person in Ireland to discover a supernova
- Winston Grennan (1944-2000), Jamaican drummer, famous for session work from 1962 to 1973 in Jamaica
- Eamon Grennan (b. 1941), Irish poet born in Dublin
| Historic Events for the Grennan family | + |
- Mrs. Sarah Grennan (1871-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Nid cyfoeth
Motto Translation: Not wealth, but contentment.(Welsh.
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Grennan migration to the United States 
Grennan migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
