Show ContentsConnaghane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Connaghane surname comes from a proud and ancient past. The name Connaghane appeared originally in Gaelic as Ó Connachtain. 1

Early Origins of the Connaghane family

The surname Connaghane was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Connaghane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Connaghane research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Connaghane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Connaghane Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Connaghane are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Cunigan, Conigan, Cunnigan, Conaghan, Conaughan, O'Cunigan, O'Conaghan, Connaghan, Connaughan, Kinneghan, Kinnegan and many more.

Early Notables of the Connaghane family

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

Migration of the Connaghane family

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Connaghane or a variant listed above: Bernard, Hugh, James, and Michael Conaghan, Cornelius, Edward, Hugh, and William Conahan, Cormack and John Connaghan, Patrick Connahan, and Henry Coninghan, arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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