Raglen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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• Wales

Early Origins of the Raglen family

Early History of the Raglen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raglen research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1550, 1563 and 1578 are included under the topic Early Raglen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raglen Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Raglen have included Raglan, Ragland and others.

Early Notables of the Raglen family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir John Ragland of Carnllwyd, (died by 1550); and his son, Sir Thomas Ragland (fl.1563), of Carnllwyd, Glamorganshire, Wales and Roughton Holme, Norfolk and Walworth, Surrey, England, Justice of the Peace of Norfolk from 1550...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Raglen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Raglen family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Raglen: Thomas Ragland, who arrived in Maryland in 1680; and John Ragland, his wife Ann Beaufort, and ten children, who came to Virginia in 1720.