Ronan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 


Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Ronan family in Ireland was Ó Ronain, which means descendant of Ronan. The popular personal name Ronan may derive from the word ron, which means a seal.

Early Origins of the Ronan family

The surname Ronan was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. John Ronayne is recorded in the County of Cork in the year 1139. The name is from the old Gaelic O'Roynian and they were apparently an old Munster family until the Anglo/Norman invasion of 1172, when their lands were forfeited and the family dispersed.

Early History of the Ronan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ronan research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1139 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Ronan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ronan Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Ronan family name include Ronane, Ronayne, O'Ronayne, O'Ronan, Roonane, O'Roonane, Roonan, O'Roonan and many more.

Early Notables of the Ronan family

More information is included under the topic Early Ronan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ronan Ranking

In the United States, the name Ronan is the 11,642nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Ronan migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Ronan to North America:

Ronan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Ronan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ronan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ronan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ronan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ronan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ronan 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:

Ronan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Ronan (post 1700) +


The Ronan 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: Ipse fecit nos
Motto Translation: For he is our maker.
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