Show ContentsNugant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman names that arrived in Ireland in the wake of the 12th century invasion by Richard "Strongbow" de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The surname Nugant belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Originally, these place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. The name of the Nugant family comes from one of the many places called Nogent in France. The Gaelic form of the surname Nugant is Nuinseann.

Early Origins of the Nugant family

The surname Nugant was first found in county Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where they held a family seat after 1172.

Early History of the Nugant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nugant research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1213, 1486, 1544, 1583, 1602, 1607, 1621, 1642, 1669, 1671, 1680, 1684, 1714, 1715, 1752 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Nugant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nugant Spelling Variations

It was found during an investigation of the origins of the name Nugant that church officials and medieval scribes often spelled the name as it sounded. This practice lead to a single person's being documented under many spelling variations. The name Nugant has existed in the various shapes: Nugent, Nogent, Newgent, Neugent, Newgant, Newgeant, Nuegent, Nougent, Newjeant, Nujent, Noigent, Nuigent, Nuijent, Nushend, Newshent, Newshand, Neushant and many more.

Early Notables of the Nugant family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Sir Christopher Nugent, 6th Baron Delvin (1544-1602), an Irish nobleman and writer who was arrested on suspicion of treason against Queen Elizabeth I of England; Richard Nugent, 1st Earl Of Westmeath (1583-1642), an Irish nobleman and politician, imprisoned for plotting against the Crown in 1607, but was later pardoned and thereafter a reliable supporter of...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nugant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Nugant family

Irish immigration to North American began in the late 18th century as many Irish families desired to own their own land. This pattern of immigration grew slowly yet steadily until the 1840s. At that time, a failed crop and a growing population in Ireland resulted in the Great Potato Famine. Poverty, disease, and starvation ravaged the land. To ease their pain and suffering the Irish often looked upon North America as a solution: hundreds of thousands undertook the voyage. Their arrival meant the growth of industry and commerce for British North America and the United States. For the individual Irishman, it meant survival and hope, and the opportunity for work, freedom, and ownership of land. The early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Nugant: Christopher Nugent who settled in Virginia in 1638; as well as Arthur, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Hugh, Henry, Isabella, Jane, John, Margaret, Martin, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Richard, Robert, Terence, Thomas and William Nugent, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..



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