Show ContentsMacQuigg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name MacQuigg originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Coigligh, which may be derived from "coigeal," which denotes "unkempt hair."

Early Origins of the MacQuigg family

The surname MacQuigg was first found in County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) located on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the MacQuigg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacQuigg research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1461, 1468 and 1470 are included under the topic Early MacQuigg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacQuigg Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacQuigg that are preserved in documents of the family history are O'Quigley, Quigley, Cogley, Quigly, Quigg, MacQuigg, McQuigge, O'Quigg, Twigg, Fivey and many more.

Early Notables of the MacQuigg family

Notable among the family name at this time was Patrick Cogley (died after 1470), an Irish Crown official, landowner and judge who was listed in 1461 as Master of the Rolls in Ireland and later Chief...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacQuigg Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacQuigg family

The English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name MacQuigg: Andrew, Hugh, James, John, Joseph, Neil, Thomas and William Quigg all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870; Andrew, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Francis, George, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and William Quigley all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870.



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