Show ContentsParogynd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Most of the old Irish surnames that can be found throughout the world today have their roots in the Gaelic language. The original Gaelic form of the name Parogynd is Mac Giolla Phadraig, denoting a devotee of St. Patrick. This is the only native-Irish surname with the prefix "Fitz", as all others descend from the Normans.1

Early Origins of the Parogynd family

The surname Parogynd was first found in Ossory (Irish: Osraige), the former Kingdom of Ossory, now county Kilkenny, located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they were the traditional Princes of Ossary, claiming descent from the O'Connors 2 and Giolla Padraig, a warlike chief in Ossary who lived in the second half of the 10th century. 1

Early History of the Parogynd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parogynd research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1535, 1558, 1581, 1585, 1612, 1652, 1727 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Parogynd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parogynd Spelling Variations

Numerous spelling variations of the surname Parogynd exist. A partial explanation for these variants is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatricks, Kilpatrick, Shera, Sherar, Sherra, Patchy, Patchie, Parogan, Parrican, Fitz, MacGilpatrick, McGilpatrick, MacIlpatrick, McIlpatrick, MacSherra, McSherra, McShera, MacShera, Sheera, McSheera and many more.

Early Notables of the Parogynd family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Sir Barnaby Fitzpatrick, (1535?-1581), one of the first to submit to Henry VII and was knighted for his allegiance in 1558. He was the son and heir of Brian Fitzpatrick or MacGillapatrick, first lord...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Parogynd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Parogynd family

Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of Parogynd were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists: John and Edward Fitzpatrick who landed in Virginia in 1774; William Fitzpatrick settled in New York in 1817; Betty Fitzpatrick settled in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1803.



The Parogynd Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ceart laidir a boo
Motto Translation: Might is Right


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)


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