McVeagh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Ireland

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac an Bheatha," and a bearer of Mac Beatha is mentioned in the Annals as taking part in the battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Early Origins of the McVeagh family

The surname McVeagh was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they held a family seat from ancient times. Today the name is numerous in north-east Ulster but back in the 17th century it was mainly recorded in Antrim, Armagh and Donegal as McVagh, McVaugh and McEvagh. 1

Early History of the McVeagh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McVeagh research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1541 and 1798 are included under the topic Early McVeagh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McVeagh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: McVeigh, McVeagh, McVey, McVeigh, Mcvagh, MacVaugh, McEvagh and many more.

Early Notables of the McVeagh family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McVeagh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McVeagh migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McVeagh Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edmund McVeagh, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 2

McVeagh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martin McVeagh, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 2
Matthew McVeagh, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 2

McVeagh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edmund, John, and Patrick McVeagh, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

McVeagh migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McVeagh Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary McVeagh, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Daniel O'Connell" in 1834

McVeagh migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McVeagh Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James McVeagh, (b. 1851), aged 23, Irish farm servant, from Antrim travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 3

Contemporary Notables of the name McVeagh (post 1700) +

Alexander McVeagh, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 2008 4
J McVeagh, professor of Literature at the University of Ulster

The McVeagh 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: Per ardua
Motto Translation: Through adversity.