Show ContentsBrannagan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Brannagan

What does the name Brannagan mean?

The original Gaelic form of Brannagan was Ó Branagain, derived from bran, which means raven. 1

Early Origins of the Brannagan family

The surname Brannagan was first found in the counties of Armagh and Monaghan (Irish: Muineachán) located in the Northern part of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Ulster, and were a part of the Cenel Eoghain (Clann Owen) one of the important septs (clanns) who are descended from Eoghan (Owen) son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, perhaps the greatest of all Irish General Kings whose history makes King Arthur's romances pale. 2

Early History of the Brannagan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brannagan research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1610 is included under the topic Early Brannagan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brannagan 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 Brannagan family name include Branagan, Branigan, Brangan, Brangen, Branghan, Branikan, Brankin, Brannagan, Brannahan, Brannaghan, Brannaghin, Brannigan, Braendigan, Brandigan, O'Branagan and many more.

Early Notables of the Brannagan family

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


Brannagan migration to Australia +

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

Brannagan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Sophia Brannagan, (Brannigan), Irish convict who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Mr. Michael Brannagan, (b. 1790), aged 37, Irish gentleman's servant who was convicted in Meath, Ireland for life for theft, transported aboard the "Cambridge" on 2nd June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1857 4

Brannagan 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:

Brannagan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Dennis Brannagan, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cambridge


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