Garrigan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Ireland
Scotland

The Irish name Garrigan was originally written in a Gaelic form as Mag Oireachtaigh, which is derived from the word "oireachtach," referring to a member of an assembly. Translating the name into English produces no less than seventeen different synonyms. But the origin of the name is most intriguing. In the 12th century, the name was simply Ó Roduibh but a Oireachtach Ó Roduibh at that time caused the name to be shortened to Oireachtach, their present form.

Early Origins of the Garrigan family

The surname Garrigan was first found in counties Roscommon and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they were one of the Hi Maine Septs in Kelly's country. They were direct descendants of the O'Connors, Kings of Connacht, and the Chief of the Clann was one of the four royal chiefs under the O'Connor. 1 The tree on the Coat of Arms illustrates their descendancy from the O'Connors.

Early History of the Garrigan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garrigan research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1585, 1598 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Garrigan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garrigan Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Garrigan revealed spelling variations, including Gerrity, Gerty, Gerighty, Gerighaty, Gerety, Gerahty, Garraty, Geraty, Jerety, McGerity, MacGeraghty, MacGartie, MacGarty and many more.

Early Notables of the Garrigan family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garrigan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garrigan migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Garrigan to North America:

Garrigan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Phillip Garrigan, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 2

Garrigan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

C Garrigan, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
Jos. J. Garrigan, aged 26, who landed in America from Cork, in 1893
Margaret Garrigan, aged 25, who landed in America from Mullagh, in 1896
John Garrigan, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States from Mullagh, in 1896

Garrigan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Gerald Garrigan, who landed in America, in 1906
Antonio G. Garrigan, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
John Garrigan, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1912
Mary Garrigan, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Oldcastle, Ireland, in 1912
Joseph Garrigan, aged 21, who settled in America from County Waterford, Ireland, Ireland in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garrigan migration to Australia +

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

Garrigan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Garrigan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1847 3

Garrigan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Garrigan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Garrigan, (b. 1857), aged 20, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Garrigan (post 1700) +

Philip Joseph Garrigan (1840-1919), Irish-born, American Roman Catholic clergyman, first bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City in Iowa from 1902 to until his death in 1919.
Alison Garrigan (b. 1958), American actor, singer, and costume designer
Mike Garrigan, American singer-songwriter from Greensboro, North Carolina
Liam Garrigan (b. 1981), English theatre and television actor

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TRAFALGAR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Trafalgar.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html