Ragan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Irish families began leaving their homeland for North America in the late 18th century. These families were usually modestly well off, but they were looking forward to owning and working on a sizable tract of land of their own. This pattern of emigration continued until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of destitute and desperate Irish people. These people were not leaving for a grant of land in North America because by this time the East Coast had reached its saturation point and free land was scarce. They were merely looking to escape the disease, starvation, and hopelessness that Ireland had fallen into. Although these unfortunate immigrants did not receive a warm welcome by the established populations in the United States and what would become Canada, they were absolutely critical to the rapid development that these two nations enjoyed. They would help populate the western lands and provide the cheap labor required for a rapid industrialization. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early bearers of the name Ragan or one of its variants:

Ragan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• James Ragan, a bonded passenger, who arrived in America in 1750
• John Ragan, who settled in Philadelphia in 1798

Ragan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Eleanor Ragan, who arrived in Baltimore in 1825
• James Ragan, aged 21, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 3
• John Ragan, aged 31, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1852 3
• Michael Ragan, who arrived in New York in 1853 3
• Daniel Ragan, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1857 3
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ragan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Ragan who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Mr. James Ragan, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
• Miss Mary Ragan, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 11th February 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• Henry Ragan, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7

Ragan Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

• "Miss Catherine Ragan, (b. 1809), aged 19, Irish servant from Cork who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia" 8

• Arthur Edgar "Rip" Ragan (1878-1953), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played one season with the Cincinnati Reds in 1903
• Amanda Ragan (b. 1954), American politician, Member of the Iowa Senate (2002-)
• Don Carlos Patrick Ragan (1885-1956), American Major League Baseball player
• David William Ragan Jr. (b. 1935), American professional PGA golfer
• Sam Ragan (1915-1996), American journalist, author, poet and champion of the arts
• Philip E. Ragan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 9th District, 1952 9
• Martin Ragan (b. 1899), American Democratic Party politician, Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Brooke County, 1965-67 9
• John M. Ragan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nebraska, 1888 9
• Hugh Ragan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1912 9
• Daniel T. Ragan, American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Gaston County, 1858-59 9
• ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist
• Family Crests: Timeline
• Family Crests: Elements
• Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate
• Spelling variations
• Family seat
• Leinster
• Ireland
• Fl.
• Great Potato Famine
• New South Wales
• Irish families
• Van Diemen's
• First Fleets
• Australia
• England

• The Lineage of the Amos Ragan Family by Elizabeth H. Ragan.