O'Costagent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

While the Anglicized versions of Irish names are familiar to most people, many Irish names have a long and proud Gaelic heritage that is often unknown. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Costagent is Mac Oistigin which is probably derived from the pet form of the English name Roger, which is Hodgkin. 1

Early Origins of the O'Costagent family

The surname O'Costagent was first found in Leix (Irish: Laois) formerly known as Queen's County, located in central Ireland, in Leinster Province, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

The family descend through the Fitzpatrick, Princes of Ossary, line and are listed 121st in that genealogy.

"Geoffrey Baccach: his son, had a brother named Ostagan: ("osda:" Irish a host; "gan" without), a quo "Clan Ostagain," Anglicised Costigan." 2

Early History of the O'Costagent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Costagent research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1039 is included under the topic Early O'Costagent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Costagent Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name O'Costagent revealed many variations, including Costigan, Costigen, Costigin, McCostigan and others.

Early Notables of the O'Costagent family

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

Migration of the O'Costagent family

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name O'Costagent: Michael, James, Joseph, Lawrence, Patt, Thomas (three of this name), and William Costigan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1850 and 1870.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)