Sorry the coat of arms/family crest for Fogal could not be displayed.
Sorry the coat of arms/family crest for Fogal could not be displayed.
When the Strongbownian's arrived in
Ireland there was already a system for creating
patronymic names in place. Therefore, the native population regarded many of the Anglo-Norman naming practices that these settlers were accustomed to as rather unusual. Despite their differences, the two different systems eventually merged together rather insidiously. The Strongbownians, when they arrived, displayed a preference for used
nickname surnames. Two of the most prevalent forms were oath nicknames and imperative names. Oath names often carried blessings or were formed from habitual expressions. Imperative names, formed from a verb added to a noun or an adverb, metaphorically described the bearer's occupations. The nick name surname Fogal is derived from a nickname for a person who wore a habitual expression of discontent or unhappiness. The surname Fogal is derived from the
Welsh word gwgan, which is a diminutive of gwg, which means frown or scowl. The Gaelic form of the surname is Ugán.
Early Origins of the Fogal family
The surname Fogal was first found in
Pembrokeshire in southern
Wales. However, it is believed that they were descended from Gwrgyn, the Lord of Bryn in the county of Denbigh in north Wales. Very early in the family's history, an important branch were granted lands by
Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in his invasion of
Ireland in 1172 and thus began the dual country origins of the name. The progenitor of the family is believed to be Gwgan Ap, Lord of Brecknock, one of whose descendants married the heiress of Wiston, who was a descendant of Wizo the Fleming, Lord of Daugleddy.
Early History of the Fogal family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fogal research.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1542, 1448, 1542, 1556, 1543, 1554, 1588, 1644, 1621, 1622, 1625, 1629, 1640, 1644, 1620, 1625, 1648, 1649, 1702, 1672, 1638, 1708, 1679, 1685, 1700, 1681, 1685, 1678, 1758, 1317, 1321, 1295, 1313, 1317, 1650, 1716 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Fogal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Fogal Spelling Variations
During the lifetime of an individual person, his name was often spelt by church officials and medieval scribes the way it sounded. An examination of the many different origins of each name has revealed many
spelling variations for the name: Vogan, Wogan, Vogin, Vogen, Voggan, Woggan, Woggin, Woggen, Woggon, Voggon, Voygan, Voigan, Woigan, Woiggan, Wogand, Vogand, Vogant, Wogant, Woggant and many more.
Early Notables of the Fogal family (pre 1700)
Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir Henry Wogan, steward of the earldom of Pembroke in 1448; Sir John Wogan, a gentleman usher of the king's chamber and was granted certain offices in
Pembrokeshire and
Cardiganshire in consideration of his services in
England and abroad, Sheriff of...
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fogal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Fogal family to Ireland
Some of the Fogal family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 303 words (22 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Fogal family to the New World and Oceana
During the middle of the 19th century,
Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with
Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Fogal:
Fogal Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Jane Fogal, aged 40, originally from London, England, who arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool, England [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX6X-J2Z : 6 December 2014), Jane Fogal, 11 Aug 1907; citing departure port Liverpool, arrival port New York, ship name Etruria, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). - Leah Fogal, aged 11, originally from London, England, who arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool, England [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX6X-J28 : 6 December 2014), Leah Fogal, 11 Aug 1907; citing departure port Liverpool, arrival port New York, ship name Etruria, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). - Rebecca Fogal, aged 3, originally from London, England, who arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool, England [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX6X-J2X : 6 December 2014), Rebecca Fogal, 11 Aug 1907; citing departure port Liverpool, arrival port New York, ship name Etruria, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
Contemporary Notables of the name Fogal (post 1700)
- Constance "Connie" Fogal (b. 1940), Canadian politician and activist, former leader of the Canadian Action Party