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Origins Available: |
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Many Irish names are merely English translations of Gaelic names. The name Gilgen was a translation of the Gaelic name Mac Giollagain, which is derived from the word "giolla," which means "lad."
The surname Gilgen was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat at a place called Magilligans Strand.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilgen research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gilgen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many different spelling variations of the surname Gilgen were found in the archives researched. These included Scribes and church officials generally spelled a name as it sounded; as a result, a person's name could be spelt innumerable ways in his lifetime. Gilligan, Gilegan, Gillegan, Giligan and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Gilgen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
North America received thousands of Irish immigrants from the English-ruled Ireland during the 19th century. Once in the United States or what would become Canada, these immigrants quickly contributed to the ongoing settling and industrialization processes. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. An exhaustive examination of immigrant and passenger lists has shown many early immigrants bearing the surname of Gilgen: Charles, James, John, Michael, Patrick and Thomas Gilligan, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.