Craigent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The Irish name Craigent has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Craigent is O Croidheagain, from the word "croidhe," which means "heart."

Early Origins of the Craigent family

The surname Craigent was first found in 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 Craigent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craigent research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1616 is included under the topic Early Craigent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craigent Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Craigent dating from that time include Cregan, Crean, O'Crean, O'Cryan, Creaghan, Creegan, Creahan, Crehan, Creane and many more.

Early Notables of the Craigent family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Craigent 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 Craigent family relocated to North American shores quite early: Phillip Crean who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860; John Creahan settled in Philadelphia in 1868; Thomas Creane settled in Philadelphia in 1868.

The Craigent 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: Cor mundum crea in me, Deus
Motto Translation: Create in me a clean heart, O God.