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![Show Contents]() Mehigent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
The surname Mehigent originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Miadhachain," which is derived from the word miadhach, meaning honorable. 1 Early Origins of the Mehigent familyThe surname Mehigent was first found in County Leitrim (Irish: Liatroim) anciently the western half of the kingdom of Breifne, located in Northeastern Ireland, in Leinster province, Originally, "Ó Miadhacháin, this is the name of at least two distinct septs; it is now equally distributed throughout the four provinces." 2 Early History of the Mehigent familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mehigent research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Mehigent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Mehigent Spelling VariationsThose scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Mehigent family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Meighan, Meehan, Meegin, Meeghen, Meegan, Meakin, Meakins, Mekins, Mehan, Mehen, Mehigan, Mehegan, O'Meighan, O'Meehan and many more. Early Notables of the Mehigent familyMore information is included under the topic Early Mehigent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Mehigent familyThousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Mehigent: Thomas Mehegan, who settled in San Francisco in 1850; Daniel and Betsy Mehen settled in Boston in 1849; along with John, Laurence, Mathew and Hugh; John (3) Meighan arrived in Philadelphia in 1845.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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