Mehigyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Early Origins of the Mehigyn family

Early History of the Mehigyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mehigyn research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Mehigyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mehigyn Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Mehigyn were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Meighan, Meehan, Meegin, Meeghen, Meegan, Meakin, Meakins, Mekins, Mehan, Mehen, Mehigan, Mehegan, O'Meighan, O'Meehan and many more.

Early Notables of the Mehigyn family

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

Migration of the Mehigyn family

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Mehigyn family in North America: 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.