Show ContentsFeagan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Feagan

What does the name Feagan mean?

The surname Feagan is derived from the Gaelic "O Faodhagain," which in turn comes from the Latin word "paganus," which refers to a "villager" or "peasant."

Early Origins of the Feagan family

The surname Feagan was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they settled in early times.

Early History of the Feagan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Feagan research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1423, 1638, 1663 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Feagan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Feagan Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided the early scribes and church officials in recording names. This process of estimation often produced to the misleading result of one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Feagan are preserved in documents of the family history. The various spellings of that name included Fagan, Faggan, Fagin, Feagan, Fegan, Feighan, Fieghan and many more.

Early Notables of the Feagan family

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


Feagan migration to the United States +

During the late 18th and 19th centuries hundreds, of thousands of Irish left their homeland for North American shores. The earlier settlers left for the promise of free land or to participate in the development of what was seen as a new land. This pattern of immigration continued for many years, growing at a slow but steady pace. The 1840s, however, forever disrupted this pattern. In that decade, Ireland experienced an unprecedented plague of disease, starvation, and death, all of which were produced by the failure of the island's potato crop. That decade alone the numbers of people leaving the island rivaled all of the previous years of Irish immigration combined. When these large immigrants hit North American shores they unfortunately encountered more discrimination from the established population. They were, however, very warmly received by industrialists and those with a passion for nation building. The former saw the Irish as a cheap source of labor required for the extraction of coal and lumber, and the manufacture of products, the latter regarded them as a means to occupy the west and to construct the essential bridges, railways, canals, and roadways required by an industrialized nation. Whenever and however the Irish arrived in North America, they were instrumental to the development of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Irish name of Feagan:

Feagan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Feagan, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1812 1
  • Maggie Feagan, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1892
Feagan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Chas. Feagan, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921

Feagan migration to Australia +

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

Feagan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Feagan, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 2


The Feagan 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: Deo partriaeque fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to God and my country.


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Andromeda voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1826 with 147 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1826


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