The original Gaelic form of the name Carnaghan is Ó Cearnachain, which is derived from the word "cearnach," which means "victorious." 1
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Early Origins of the Carnaghan family
The surname Carnaghan was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
Early History of the Carnaghan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carnaghan research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Carnaghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Carnaghan Spelling Variations
Scribes and church officials, lacking today's standardized spelling rules, recorded names by how they were pronounced. This imprecise guide often led to the misleading result of one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Carnaghan are preserved in documents of the family history. The various spellings of the name that were found include Kernahan, Kernaghan, Carnahan, Carnaghan and others.
Early Notables of the Carnaghan family
More information is included under the topic Early Carnaghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Carnaghan family
A massive wave of Irish immigrants hit North America during the 19th century. Although many early Irish immigrants made a carefully planned decision to leave left Ireland for the promise of free land, by the 1840s immigrants were fleeing a famine stricken land in desperation. The condition of Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s can be attributed to a rapidly expanding population and English imperial policies. Those Irish families that arrived in North America were essential to its rapid social, industrial, and economic development. Passenger and immigration lists have revealed a number of early Irish immigrants bearing the name Carnaghan: Alexander Kernaghan who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1830; along with John (1840) and William(1856); Thomas Kernahan settled in Philadelphia in 1850.
