Show ContentsHardigent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely over time. The original Gaelic form of the name Hardigent is Ó hArtigain, which connotes a descendant of Art. [1]

Early Origins of the Hardigent family

The surname Hardigent was first found in counties Clare and Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. [2]

One of the first records of the family was of Cineth O'Hartigan (died 975), an Irish poet from the north of Ireland, perhaps best known for his "Dinnsenchus," a work which relates the legendary history of the duns, lakes, plains and mountains of Ireland. It gives a prose account of each place, followed by an account in verse. [3]

Early History of the Hardigent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardigent research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardigent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardigent Spelling Variations

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname Hardigent were found in the many archives researched. These included Hartigan, O'Hartigan, Hartagan, Hartegan, Hartigon, Hartagon and many more.

Early Notables of the Hardigent family

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

Migration of the Hardigent family

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name Hardigent or one of its variants: James, Michael, Patrick and Thomas Hartigan arrived in Canada in 1839; Michael Hartigan arrived in Baltimore with his wife and five children in 1820. In Newfoundland, Denis settled in St. John's in 1804.



  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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