Show ContentsCawlagher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Cawlagher has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Cawlagher is Ó Gallchobhair, derived from the word "gallchobhar," which means "foreign help."

Early Origins of the Cawlagher family

The surname Cawlagher was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, but claim descent from a warrior named "Gallchobhar" and held lands in the baronies of Raphoe and Tir Hugh. They held a castle at Ballyshannon and at one time also held the castle of Lifford.

The Sept's chiefs were the traditional Marshals in the O'Donnells' military forces from the 14th to 16th centuries. The main branch of the family was based at Ballybeit and Ballynaglack.

Early History of the Cawlagher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cawlagher research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1547, 1725 and 1751 are included under the topic Early Cawlagher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cawlagher Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Cawlagher revealed many variations, including Gallagher, Gallacher, Gallaugher, Gallaughor, Gallager and many more.

Early Notables of the Cawlagher family

Notable among the family name at this time was Bishop Redmund O'Gallagher, The Diocese of Killala, who was imprisoned and banished from the diocese on fraudulent charges; Redmond O'Gallagher, who was appointed Bishop of Killala by Pope Paul III in 1545; and Art O'Gallagher, Papal...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cawlagher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cawlagher family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Cawlagher family relocated to North American shores quite early: Charles, David, Francis, James, John, Michael, and Thomas Galagher who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865.



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